Current primary care approaches to diabetic foot prevention and treatment

Diabetes-related foot disease is a significant source of morbidity and mortality among people with diabetes, affecting approximately 1.8 % of the global population and leading to many hospital admissions and non-traumatic amputations. Structured multidisciplinary care for the management of diabetes-related foot disease has been shown to reduce complication rates. The role of primary care providers is crucial in the education, recognition, management, and referral of people with diabetes-related foot disease. This evidence-based review article combines expert opinion with research-based consensus to offer comprehensive yet actionable guidance for primary care providers. It discusses the different domains of care for diabetes-related foot disease, including prevention, cardiometabolic biomarkers, education, risk stratification, complication detection, disease staging, treatment options, and management considerations for different geographic populations.