Digital educational program for diabetic foot control
There are approximately 60 million people living with diabetes in Europe, and the number of people with diabetes is increasing in the European region, across all age groups. This is mainly due to an increase in overweight, obesity, consumption of unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity.
A common complication of diabetes is lower limb involvement, called diabetic foot, where a number of irreversible changes occur in the feet due to changes in the body of diabetics. This is mainly due to neuropathy and ischaemia of the lower limbs, which are frequent causes of serious complications (ulceration, gangrene) and in many cases end in amputation of the toes, part of the foot or even the entire lower limb. Expert medical reports suggest that the main cause of foot complications in diabetics is improper foot care and inappropriate footwear. Unfortunately, the importance of proper footwear in keeping diabetics physically active and diabetic feet healthy is often underestimated. In diabetics, inappropriate footwear is the cause of foot complications in up to 80% of cases.
The nature of the footwear worn, along with lifestyle, health, physical conditions, and age, affect not only the condition of the feet, but also the functioning of the entire body. Prolonged wearing of inappropriate footwear can cause general fatigue and loss of concentration, headaches, varicose veins, foot restrictions, foot arches dropping, toe deformity and affect a number of orthopaedic and skin conditions of the feet.
Prevention is an important factor and prerequisite to ensure proper function of the feet and the entire musculoskeletal system. In order to prevent the development of diabetic foot syndrome, in addition to appropriate footwear, regular exercise and other physical activities are also very important, which also help to lower blood sugar levels and reduce weight. Since diabetics have a high risk of complications of diabetic foot syndrome and a high mortality rate after foot amputation, prevention is very important in this regard. Reducing the number of diabetic patients with functional leg problems and reducing the number of lower limb amputations will not only lead to a desirable quality of life in working age and especially in old age, but also, and most importantly, to a reduction in the cost of financing follow-up health care after lower limb amputations.
The aim of the project is to increase the level of knowledge of diabetic patients, their family members, educators, caregivers and paramedical and nursing staff in hospitals and diabetic or podiatric outpatient clinics, as well as staff in shoe shops about complications and risks, that can be associated with diabetes and lower limb disability, the principles of good foot care, the selection of appropriate footwear and the acquisition of good exercise habits in the form of a comprehensive training programme "Diabetic Foot Care", using digital tools. In addition, the intention of the project is to also reach out to shoe manufacturers who produce dia-shoes and integrate special features into all stages of shoe production to ensure appropriate footwear for those with specific needs.
The aim of the project will be to create digital educational materials and to implement awareness raising and multiplication activities aimed at these three different target groups:
1. patients, families, teachers (educators, informal caregivers, community in general);
2. intermediate health and nursing staff (clinics, etc.) and shoe shops;
3. shoe manufacturers.
Among other things, a special website will be created, where all educational materials and educational films will be placed in English and in the language versions of the partner countries participating in the project. As the Czech Footwear and Leather Association is a partner in the international DiaShoe project, this website will also have all information and materials in the Czech version.
Further information on the project will be available at: www.diashoeproject.eu.