Diabetes Feet Australia has teamed up with the Australian Podiatry Association to ensure the following updates reach podiatrists across Australia. With plenty happening, there are many opportunities to become involved, no matter where you are based.
Diabetes Feet Australia (DFA) wants podiatrists across Australia to be among the first to learn about the following updates, given upcoming opportunities make a difference.
Here’s what DFA has been busy working on…
Diabetes Feet Australia is hosting the first national, annual, Diabetes Feet Day on 12 November 2024!
We know that in Australia, every two hours a person with diabetes has a minor or major amputation as a direct result of diabetes-related foot disease. We also know it’s a complex diabetes complication involving many moving multi-disciplinary parts all working towards finding the best outcome. However, the focus of the podiatrist is different to that of a vascular surgeon. The focus of a person living with a diabetes foot ulcer is different to a person at risk of developing diabetes-related foot disease.
Diabetes Feet Day provides an annual national day where diabetes-related foot heath and disease is front and centre. Featuring activities to encourage clinical discussion and involvement, interactive awareness messaging, practical fact sheets all designed to educate about better feet health.
So, save the date and stay tuned for more releases in the lead up to the big day. DFA is starting at the very beginning by asking a simple question… What’s your feet focus?
We’ll share more info in the coming months, so podiatrists are amongst the first to know what’s happening.
After a new podcast? How about two?!
Diabetes Feet Australia has been working hard to provide insightful and practical foot education for health professionals with the creation of not one, but two podcasts!
DFA has just launched the DF Podcast which covers two areas: the latest in diabetes feet research on one podcast and the DFYarn series in another podcast, where the lived experiences of diabetes feet health and disease in our First Nations Communities is shared first-hand.
More on the research podcast series… New research on diabetes feet health and disease is published almost daily, and in the last three years, over 250 publications featuring our very own Australian DFD researchers have been published globally. In contrast though, currently DFD receives less than 0.2% of all Australian diabetes research funding.
In our DF Podcast Research series, we’re providing a national platform to showcase both Australian DFD research and researchers. So, join us for our relaxed interview series where we chat directly to leading researchers, and learn about them, their research, and the latest in diabetes feet health and disease.
In episode one of the research series, we chat with Dr Peta Tehan about her recent paper ‘How far has diabetes-related foot disease research progressed in Australia? A bibliometric review (1970–2023)’, recently published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. The episode explores the findings of this research, highlighting the importance of prevention research and the need for more collaboration and investment in diabetes feet health research. Dr Tehan also talks about her current research in nutrition and wound healing.
More on the DFYarn series… In this series, as shared above, the lived experiences of diabetes feet health and disease in our First Nations Communities is shared first-hand, alongside insights on health settings, and the broader impact.
Diabetes Feet Australia and health professionals across the nation have recognised we need to support better foot health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, particularly those living in rural and remote communities.
An essential part of this experience is listening to, and developing an understanding of, the lived experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples living with diabetes-related foot disease.
In episode one of the DFYarn series, host Professor Viv Chuter listens to and learns from Michael Pigram, a proud Ngarigo and Dharug man living on Darkinjung Country. This episode privileges Michael’s teachings and his lived experiences. Michael talks about centring culture in health and healing, connection to Country, and cultural responsiveness in foot care services.
It’s all ready to be listened to (and learned from) on DFA’s podcast home or on Spotify.
Up to 85% of non-traumatic lower limb amputations in Australian people living with diabetes can be prevented with management and best practice clinical treatment. When a new foot problem develops, it’s important to seek urgent medical attention from a health professional to review, as early treatment is key to preventing serious complications.
You can find out what’s happening by heading to the Diabetes Feet Australia website to download the diabetes feet health passport designed for people living with diabetes. It walks these people through simple daily steps to help take care of their valuable feet.
In 2017, Diabetes Feet Australia developed the foundational publication Australian DFD Strategy 2018-2022: The first step towards ending avoidable amputations within a generation strategy document. This strategy clearly defined specific national recommendations for action for areas of diabetes-related foot disease care focused on access care, safe, quality care and research and development.
With the current national strategy at its conclusion, DFA has reviewed what we have achieved as a nation over the last six years and developed the next national foot priorities and recommendations.
So, get ready as DFA are launching the Public Consultation in November. You are invited to have your say in helping to guide our national diabetes-related feet health and disease priorities. Check back on the DFA website for further updates and links.
DFA would be thrilled to collaborate with podiatrists across all of the above initiatives, and please do share these updates with your networks. Thank you!
© Copyright 2021 The Australian Podiatry Association
