Foot ulcers are a common complication of diabetes, substantially increasing morbidity and healthcare costs. This article reviews the establishment and success of an emergency telephone hotline for rapid assessment and referral of people who have, or who are at high risk of developing, diabetic foot disease. The positive response to this new service among people with diabetes indicates that such hotlines could reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment in acute circumstances, and thereby improve outcomes....

This article is part one of a two-part look at the role of screening people with diabetes to prevent diabetic foot complications. In this article, the authors review the literature in relation to foot screening and summarise best practice guidelines. Part two will present original data from a foot clinic in the UK, looking at whether best practice screening for the diabetic foot is a reality on the ground....