Endocrine Abstracts

Goal: Decrease a number of lower limb amputations in PDM in Uzbekistan by improvement of specialised help given to patients with DFS.

Materials and methods: Prior to 2010 there were only 2 ‘Diabetic foot’ rooms in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In 2010–2012, ‘UMID’ association jointly with Uzbekistan Ministry of Health and Research Centre for Endocrinology implemented a project ‘Prevention of lower limb amputations in people with diabetes mellitus in Uzbekistan’ granted by the World Diabetes Fund (WDF).

Results: Within the framework of the project for the first time in Uzbekistan, 288 ‘Diabetic foot’ rooms were set up under 14 endocrinological dispensaries and in 274 rural district clinics which were also equipped with a medical armchair for feet examination, a tuning fork, monofilament, percussion hammer, kit of dressing materials. To work in these rooms, 615 podiatrists were trained who render a qualified medical help to PDM and teach them rules of foot care. Annually over 28 800 PDM undertake feet examination and training in these rooms. A 2-fold decrease in a number of amputations and increased awareness of PDM in foot care proves improvement of specialised help to people with DFS. Within the framework of the project, 288 multidisciplinary teams (surgeon + endocrinologist + podiatrist) were trained throughout the country and now they render a specialised help to patients with DFS.

Conclusions: Implementation of the project ‘Prevention of lower limb amputations in people with diabetes mellitus in Uzbekistan’ improved a specialised help to people with DFS due to launching a network of ‘Diabetic foot’ rooms and an effective work of podiatrists and multidisciplinary teams trained on sites and that lowered a number of amputations in PDM by 2 times; increased awareness of people with diabetes on prevention of DFS.