CLINICIAN’S BROCHURE

For Best Practice Recommendations

Are your patients at risk for for the Prevention, Diagnosis and
Treatment of diabetic foot ulcers,
diabetes-related foot complications? please visit: www.cawc.net

Remember to… For more information about diabetes,

Look, Feel and Ask. please visit: www.guidelines.diabetes.ca

For patient education on topics

Diabetes,
Healthy Feet
1. Skin: Is the skin dry or calloused? 7. Sensation: Use a monofilament to
covered in this brochure, refer to the
Are there open areas such as blisters or test 10 sites on the foot to detect patient brochure or visit
ulcers? potential neuropathy.

2. Nails: Are nails well kept or unkempt? 8. Sensation: Ask 4 questions to

diabetes.ca/footcare
and
3. Deformity: Have there been changes
detect potential neuropathy:
• Are your feet ever numb?
Canadian Association of Wound Care
642 King Street West, Suite 234
Your Patients
to the bony structure of the foot? They • Do they tingle? Toronto, ON M5V 1M7
may be indicative of Charcot. • Do they ever burn? 1-866-474-0125
• Do they feel like insects www.cawc.net/diabetesandhealthyfeet
4. Foot wear: Does the patient’s footwear
fit properly? Are the shoes appropriate 9. Pedal pulses: Are pulses present, Canadian Diabetes Association
for the activity for which they are being absent or bounding? 1400-522 University Ave.
used? Toronto, ON M5G 2R5
10. Dependent rubor: This may be diabetes.ca | 1-800-BANTING (226-8464)
5. Temperature: Is the foot cool? This may indicative of poor arterial flow or
be indicative of arterial disease. perfusion.

Is the foot hot? This may be indicative 11. Erythema: This may be indicative
of inflammation, infection or Charcot. of inflammation, infection or
Charcot changes.
6. Range of Motion: Check the hallux This brochure is a guide only and should not be used
for any diagnostic or therapeutic decisions. Specific
range. medical concerns should be directly handled by a How healthy are
Frequency of assessment is dependent on findings.
qualified healthcare professional.
YOUR
* Based on Inlow 60-Second Foot Screen
*This document reflects the 2013 Canadian Diabetes Association Clinical
*This document reflects the 2013 Canadian Diabetes Association
Clinical Practice Guidelines. ©2013 Copyright patient’s feet?
Practice Guidelines. ©2013 Copyright 112050 04/13
guidelines.diabetes.ca | diabetes.ca | 1-800 BANTING
Look at your patient’s feet and know the signs. Are your What you can do
patient’s feet… to help your patient.

Monitor blood glucose management.

Numb, painful IF YES Refer patient for professional nail and skin care.
or tingling? Refer patient for professionally fitted footwear.

Showing Assess for bony deformities or Charcot changes.

signs of bony Refer patient for professionally fitted or
changes or IF YES
custom footwear.
deformities?

Refer patient for professional skin care to

manage callouses.
Dry, cracked, Treat ulcer based on depth of injury, presence
blistered or IF YES of infection and/or ischemia.
ulcerated? Recommend non-weight bearing in the
presence of a plantar ulceration.
Refer patient for non-weight bearing footwear.

Refer patient for professional skin care to

Displaying manage callouses.
dependent Treat ulcer based on depth of injury, presence
rubor, signs of IF YES of infection and/or ischemia.
ischemia and/ Recommend non-weight bearing in the
or gangrenous presence of a plantar ulceration.
ulcers? Refer patient for non-weight bearing footwear.