It is well documented that there is a correlation between high HbA1c levels and the associated risk of developing lower extremity amputation in people living with diabetes. Evidence supports strategies for lowering glucose levels to reduce amputation, infection risk and cardio-renal complications in those living with diabetes, however, often interventions are not carried out in tandem leading to patients falling through the gaps.
In direct response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the provision of podiatry services was temporarily scaled back in line with the urgent priorities to enable healthcare professionals to be redeployed to the front line. In primary care, routine diabetes annual checks were also put-on hold. This meant that patients living with diabetes who were not only at a higher risk of contracting Coronavirus (COVID-19) found their clinical care compromised due service disruption.
Within our local Integrated Community Diabetes Care (ICDC) service, we recognised the need to work together to risk stratify patients given the limited resources available. This led to the diabetes lead pharmacist and podiatrist working across the interface joining forces to review patients living with type 2 diabetes who were under the foot protection service and had the poorest glycaemic control.
