Guidance for diabetic foot management during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The Indian COVID-19 situation is and will demand more and more hospital bed capacity to manage. With diabetic foot disease (DFD) being a leading cause of hospital bed occupancy, managing these patients based on evidence-based guidelines can significantly reduce the rates of hospitalization. Every hospital bed that is not needed for a patient with DFD , gives room for occupancy by a patient suffering from COVID-19. The goal of doctors treating diabetic foot is aimed at early successful treatment of infections and preventing amputations, decreasing the hospital stay of inpatients, and effective cost reduction. Hence, changing our way of approach to managing a patient with diabetic foot and implementing new and unique ways is the need of the hour at this time of crisis. This guidance also has a section on managing diabetes in people with diabetic foot during the COVID19 pandemic.

Keywords

• covid-19
• diabetic foot management
• triage
• teleconsultation