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Title: The Galway Diabetic Foot Study: Epidemiology, Cost, Feasibility, and Implications for Clinical Practice and Policy

Investigator: Dr. Sean F Dinneen

Project Summary:

This 3-year research study will find out how common foot problems are in a group of patients with diabetes from the West of Ireland –including finding out how many already have diabetic foot complications and how many develop new complications over two years. Patients, who develop a diabetic foot ulcer, will take part in a cost analysis study, to find out the overall cost of their foot condition to the health service and to themselves. It will also help inform policy decision makers on the merits of a national diabetic foot programme for all people with diabetes in Ireland. 

Diabetes is on the increase worldwide. Poor diabetes control or delayed diagnosis of type 2 diabetes can lead to several diabetes complications, including foot problems which can potentially lead to toe, foot or lower limb amputation. Complications of diabetes, poor circulation and altered foot pressure points are the most common risk factors for foot ulceration.

Diabetes can cause nerve damage and blood vessel disease in the feet. This may cause skin and tissue breakdown, which can develop into non-healing wounds (ulcers), which are at risk of infection. This may even result in limb amputation.

In a quality service, all patients with diabetes should receive a complete foot examination at least once year. At present, this does not systematically happen in Ireland. With the increasing emphasis on the management of type 2 diabetes in primary care (GP level), there is an opportunity to develop community-based diabetes foot services that can be accessed by all patients with diabetes regardless of where they live.