Diabetic Foot course for GPs

This session emphasises the importance of the foot examination in assessing the risk of diabetic foot disease. It highlights the importance of patient education and timely referral to a diabetic multidisciplinary team to reduce long term diabetic foot complications.

This session was reviewed by Khyati Bakhai and last updated in June 2019.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Examine a diabetic foot confidently
• Advise your patients on how to look after their feet
• Recognise the risk factors for diabetic foot disease Recognise more serious disease and when urgent referral is required
• Describe how diabetic ulceration, osteomyelitis and Charcot's joint present and may be managed

Diabetes affects nearly 6% of the population.

Complications of diabetes involving the feet are common.

Complications in the feet result from damage to the very small vessels that supply the sensory, motor and autonomic nerves along with peripheral vascular disease.