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Background: Individuals living with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at an increased risk for multiple serious health complications including diabetic foot disease (DFD). Daily, DFD contributes to increased morbidity, mortality, increased hospitalization, limb amputation, and reduced quality of life. Prevention of DFD is a foundational component of diabetes management., Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore how individuals manage the care required to protect their feet from DM related foot complications., Methods: This qualitative descriptive study utilized semi structured interviews to explore the perspectives of 23 participants on preventing foot care complications associated with DM. All data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis., Results: Participants were challenged to consistently make health choices that were congruent with recommended DM self-management for the prevention of DFD. In addition, participants intuited multiple mixed messages from healthcare providers and workplaces that appeared to diminish their individual responsibility to self-manage their DM. Findings were organized under two main themes: a) Ineffective coping: Distancing self from disease b) Vacillating responsibility: Multiple mixed messages., Conclusions: Nurses are in a unique position to provide the education and support needed to assist individuals in carrying out the many recommended self-care strategies to reduce the risk of DFD. Contextually, nurses must encourage consistent messaging among health care providers and workplaces to prioritize the health needs of individuals living with diabetes and to support the challenging work these individuals must navigate every day. It will take a concerted effort to reinforce the message that diabetes care is a priority for everyone., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Purpose: To enhance the learner's competence with knowledge about using qualitative methodologies to understand diabetic foot ulcers and amputations., Target Audience: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care., Objectives: After participating in this educational activity, the participant should be better able to:1. Analyze qualitative research methodologies.2. Summarize how conclusions from qualitative research relate to diabetes mellitus and its complications. Persons living with diabetes are at high risk for foot complications, lower extremity trauma, injury, ulceration, infection, and potential amputation. Qualitative health research helps to explore and understand more fully the complexities of diabetes. Qualitative health research seeks to understand what is happening and going on for the individual and his/her support persons. In addition, qualitative health research enables clinicians to appreciate how different qualitative research approaches can explore illness from the perspective of the individual living with the disease.

PEP (Peer Education Programme) Talk: Diabetes, Healthy Feet and You is a peer-led self-management programme developed to address the problems of growing prevalence of diabetes and its complications, and limited health care dollars. An evaluation of the programme, how it might be situated within a public health perspective and potential bridges for its implementation in communities throughout Canada and worldwide, are presented. The programme consisted of workshops that were conducted by volunteer peer leaders and health care professionals in 12 communities in 10 Canadian provinces; the volunteers were supported through monthly mentoring teleconferences, on-line tips and discussion board conversations. A web portal was developed to be used by the team, volunteers and community participants. Workshop curriculum was developed based on diabetes footcare and self-management best practise guidelines. Community participants answered pre-and post-workshop statements that indicated that learning occurred, as indicated by an increase in the number of statements answered correctly. Participants' feedback about the workshops was positive. In telephone follow-up interviews, 97% of respondents reported having changed their foot self-management behaviours. The portal was commonly used according to website visits, but not as much as expected for registration of community participants. It is recommended that this programme be made widely available and tailored to the specific needs of the communities and that further evaluation be conducted., (© 2013 The Authors. International Wound Journal © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Medicalhelplines.com Inc.)

This paper showcases how a reflexive practice, that includes arts-based activities, deepened understandings experienced by a doctoral student of psychology while completing the data analysis section of a metasynthesis. The metasynthesis focused on qualitative studies, examining the mental and spiritual care of persons living with diabetic foot ulcers. Reflecting on the experience, this work argues for spaces where researchers stop and engage in reflexivity, making the work more robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic foot ulcers result in a significant cost to the healthcare system. Diabetes is a chronic systemic disorder that affects the entire body. Due to the medical complexity of patients with diabetic foot ulcers, a multidisciplinary approach to their treatment has been shown to reduce amputation and recurrence rates. This article focuses on the types of offloading devices, aids and exercises that can be utilized in order to successfully achieve pressure offloading and wound closure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to describe how lay peer leaders perceived their involvement as a volunteer in the implementation of a peer-led education program focused on diabetic foot care and prevention of diabetic foot ulcers/amputations. The peer-led education program was conducted in 10 Canadian provinces and 12 communities (two Aboriginal communities). Six months into the program, 12 out of 17 peer leaders completed online questions about their role. The program was focused on the operationalization of the PEP Talk: Diabetes Healthy Feet & You program. This program was supported by the Canadian Association of Wound Care and Public Health Agency of Canada. Peer leaders were recruited by a health care professional that knew them. Peer leaders volunteered as they wanted to give back to the healthcare system; they wanted to prevent others from experiencing foot ulcers and amputations; and overall they wanted foot care education to be delivered by a person who lived with the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes foot screening is a key component of the systematic and multidisciplinary care required by people with diabetes and is strongly supported by evidencebased best practice recommendations. Failure to carry out comprehensive diabetes foot screening can have detrimental consequences for those with diabetes. This article summarizes the key evidence supporting diabetes foot screening for risk of ulceration and lower-extremity amputation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in North America. The number of Canadian with diabetes is projected to rise to 4.2 million people by 2020. Diabetic foot ulcers have been reported in 25% of individuals with diabetes and those with foot ulcers have an increased risk of amputation and increased mortality. The earlier recognition of the high-risk foot and the timely treatment will save legs and lives. An inter-professional approach is pivotal to support patients' needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]