title: Assessing the foot in patients with diabetes.
abstract: Practice nurses are increasingly at the forefront of caring for patients with diabetes. Part of that care involves regular foot checks to determine the risk of ulceration. Ulceration may lead to amputation and a higher risk of premature death. Up to 80% of diabetes-related amputations are avoidable. During a foot check, nurses should take a history, examine the patient, assess for loss of protective sensation, and classify risk. They should seek to obtain further treatment for patients at increased risk.
authors.forename: Zoë
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rawles
mesh_terms: D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors