NDSS Helpline
People who have diabetes are more at risk of developing foot problems. Australia has the second highest rate of diabetes related amputations in the developed world. Rates are particularly high in rural and remote settings, and amongst First Nations peoples.
Routine diabetes foot risk screening has shown to be effective at identifying people who are at risk of developing diabetes-related foot disease (DFD).
Yet, only half of people diagnosed with diabetes access
routine foot risk screening.
Foot Forward offers a range of information and educational resources to support health professionals to provide appropriate foot care for people with diabetes.
The program promotes the timely identification of foot disease risk factors by healthcare professionals and targeted preventative foot care intervention and management strategies to reduce the risk of diabetes-related foot disease.
Foot Forward is a National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) complications prevention program funded by the Australian Government and delivered in partnership by Diabetes Australia and the Australian Diabetes Society.
Routine foot risk screening is key to protecting at-risk feet from ulcer development and can ultimately prevent amputation. The Foot Forward program offers free e-learning modules for healthcare professionals working in diabetes care.
The interactive e-learning modules are based on the Foot Forward Integrated Diabetes Foot Care Pathway and aim to standardise foot risk screening undertaken by healthcare professionals. The modules provide information about how to perform routine foot risk screenings to identify risk factors for foot disease and how to determine a person’s risk classification. The modules outline appropriate management plans and referral pathways based on different risk classifications.
The information included in the modules will provide ongoing reference and support to clinicians working with people with diabetes.
If you would like to learn more about how to support people with diabetes who may be at risk of foot complications, follow the link to register for the Foot Forward e-learning modules:
As part of the program, a new resource has been developed for health professionals. The Integrated Diabetes Foot Care Pathway is a tool that provides nationally consistent guidance for health professionals to encourage early identification and early treatment of foot problems for people with diabetes.
The decision support tool assists health professionals to assess the risk of diabetes-related foot disease and instigate timely referral to specialist services when required.
Use the Interactive Diabetes Foot Care Pathway to assess your patient’s risk of developing foot disease, and determine their foot care action plan.
You've selected:
Comorbidities: the presence of on our of more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary disease. While many people with diabetes + foot infection may not require hospitalisation, comorbidities, such as renal failure or an immunocompromised state, may benefit from admission.
Erythema periwound: Redness around the wound.
SINBAD: Site (Ulcer), Ischaemia, Neuropathy (LOPS), Bacterial infection, Area, Depth.
Systemic features: Fever, chills, hypotension, confusion, and volume depletion.
To find local services in your area, use the Australian Directory of High Risk Foot and Podiatry Services.
You've selected:
LOPS: Loss Of Protective Sensation (a sign of diabetic peripheral neuropathy) – once LOPS is diagnosed repeating assessment at each re-screening is not necessary.
Modifiable risk factors: behaviours or exposures that can raise or lower a person’s risk of developing foot complications. For instance: smoking, poor diet, blood glucose targets, blood lipids, and weight management.
Pre-ulcerative lesions: Includes corns, callus, tinea pedis, thickened toenails (+/- fungal infection), heel fissure. Treatment should be undertaken by a podiatrist (or similarly competent foot practitioner).
To find local services in your area, use the Australian Directory of High Risk Foot and Podiatry Services.
Australia has one of the highest diabetes-related amputation rates in the developed world (4400 a year) yet up to 85 per cent of amputations are preventable if problems are detected early and managed appropriately.
The Foot Forward program aims to minimise variation in foot care practice across Australia by standardising clinical practice in foot risk screening and further management. It is expected this will result in more timely referral to diabetes specialist high-risk foot services and, ultimately, a reduction indiabetes-related amputation rates.
Foot Forward provides information and education for both people with diabetes and health care professionals, drawing on evidence that shows the best health outcomes occur:
This program is supported by the Integrated Diabetes Foot Screening Pathway, which outlines referral actions based on:
The pathway reflects best practice and promotes earlier access to health professional services, including interdisciplinary high-risk foot services (iHRFS), and as indicated, vascular professionals and podiatrists.
The Foot Forward program offers free e-learning modules for healthcare professionals who may work with people with diabetes.
The Foot Forward e-learning modules have been developed for medical staff, nursing staff, podiatrists, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners/health workers, allied health assistants, and clinical support workers wishing to improve their competency and confidence, in providing best practice care for people with diabetes. The modules are based on the Integrated Diabetes Foot Care Pathways and assist in standardising diabetes-related foot care practice in risk screening, assessment, implementation of targeted preventative care strategies and instigation of timely referral to specialist services when required.
Training packages for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers (ATSIHWs)
In addition to the online training modules, Foot Forward offers a training package to be delivered by local healthcare professionals to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers to develop the skills required to undertake appropriate diabetes foot care in their communities.
The face to face training package covers the information to skill ATSIHWs to:
The ATSIHW training package is available to training organisations, health services or individual healthcare professionals involved in upskilling and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers.
If you would like to learn more about how to support people with diabetes who may be at risk of foot complications, CLICK HERE to register for the Foot Forward e-learning modules.
To access & book the Foot Forward Lunch&Learn Online Sessions or to watch any past sessions, please follow the link here to register
If you have a questions about Foot Forward, you may find the answer you need in our frequently asked questions.
Click here to continue to the Foot Forward FAQ page
