Foot assessment in patients with diabetes mellitus

Published on 06 Jun 2019
Last Updated on 08 Aug 2024

This ACE Clinical Guidance (ACG) highlights the importance of regular foot assessment in patients with diabetes mellitus to identify and manage risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers. The ACG offers evidence-based recommendations on assessing active diabetic foot conditions, components of foot assessment, management based on risk stratification findings (including frequency of review and referral needs), and patient education. 

Download the ACG

Foot assessment in patients with diabetes mellitus (Aug 2024) [PDF]

ACG recommendations

1. Check for presence of active diabetic foot conditions in all patients with diabetes mellitus.

2. Use foot assessment findings to determine the risk of developing a diabetic foot ulcer, corresponding review frequency, and need for referral. 

3. Educate all patients with diabetes mellitus regularly on lifestyle, regular foot assessment, foot care and appropriate footwear, to reduce risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers. 

ACG references

Foot assessment in people with diabetes mellitus references (Aug 2024) [PDF]

Acknowledgements

The Expert Group advising on this ACG is listed on the last page of the guidance. In addition, we would like to thank the following healthcare professionals for providing inputs as part of the ACG update:

Adjunct Associate Professor Glenn Tan, Adjunct Assistant Professor Muhd Farhan Bin Mohd Fadil, Ms Melissa Susan Phua, Ms Tiffany Chew Wen Ying, Dr Timothy Quek Peng Li, Dr Hong Qian Tai, Clinical Associate Professor Tay Jam Chin, Assoc Prof Chong Tze Tec, Dr Dharmaraj Rajesh Babu.