Diabetic foot amputation can vanish from Gulf if patient, physician awareness spreads, says expert

It could erase it entirely, one of the region's leading specialists in diabetic foot management said at the Arab Health medical congress and exhibition in Dubai today.

Dr. Talal Khader, Head of Podiatric Services, Diabetic Foot and Wound Clinic at the Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar, and a speaker at the 3rd Middle East Wounds Congress, said knowledge and technology could make diabetic foot amputation a thing of the past. The one-day conference opens tomorrow (Thursday, February 1) at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.

"Eliminating diabetic foot amputation is a multi-step process, and the key step is to spread knowledge, of how dangerous diabetic foot can be and how easily it can be fixed," said Dr. Khader. "Both patients and doctors and nurses have misconceptions, and are not aware of the latest technologies and treatments available that can either prevent the onset of diabetic foot or treat it early and effectively without resorting to amputation."

Recent advances in diabetic foot management include special socks and shoe inserts, topical antibiotics and wound healing products that are revolutionary in their efficacy, he added.

"With the resources and quality of treatment available in this part of the world, we should be able to keep the number of such amputations to the minimum, but we need to work just a little harder to achieve that goal," Dr. Khader said, citing the example of a Kuwaiti hospital that was able to shrink the number of amputations conducted by 80 per cent over a five-year period.

Qatar, considered a regional leader in diabetic foot care and amputation prevention, has also achieved considerable success by combining staff and patient education measures with rapid technology adoption, the establishment of a multidisciplinary treatment team and high levels of community and government support, he added.

Forums like the Wounds Congress are critical, Dr. Khader added, as they enable regional practitioners to compare cases, share best practices and update their knowledge. The 3rd Wounds Congress will also focus on minimizing trauma and pain in wound management.
The 3rd Wounds Congress is one of 16 conferences being held as part of Arab Health 2007, and is accredited by the American Academy of Continuing Medical Education.

The Arab Health medical congress and exhibition is recognized as the largest and most important events in the global healthcare calendar, and is expected to draw 4,500 delegates, 30,000 visitors and 2,200 exhibiting companies.