Diabetic Foot Valley Tuscany
The Diabetic Foot Valley Tuscany
The Diabetic Foot Valley Tuscany, led by Prof. Dr. Alberto Piaggesi, aims to establish a model of referral for Diabetic Foot (DF) care worldwide by creating a community of DF care in Tuscany, Italy.
The Members
Prof. Dr. Alberto Piaggesi (Lead)
Background of the Diabetic Foot
Diabetic Foot Syndrome (DFS) is a severe complication of diabetes, significantly increasing the risk of infection, amputation, and mortality. Due to its high recurrence rate, complexity, and impact on healthcare systems, DFS requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach for effective prevention and management.
- Diabetic Foot Syndrome (DFS) affects 25% of diabetics globally and has a 98% recurrence rate within 10 years.
- DFS is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputation, with a 60x higher risk than the general population.
- It has a 60% five-year mortality rate, similar to aggressive cancers.
- Due to its prevalence, severity, and mortality, experts call for a paradigm shift in management and resource allocation.
- Tuscany, home to 250,000 diabetics (12,000 with DFS), recognized the issue in the 1990s, establishing specialized prevention and care services.
- The region’s extensive DF clinic network makes it a unique model, often compared to a “Diabetic Foot Valley” due to its concentration of expertise and research contributions.
Strategy & Objectives
The Diabetic Foot Valley Tuscany initiative (2023-2026) aims to enhance patient outcomes through an integrated, evidence-based approach by:
- Implementing Guidelines: Applying international and regional DF management guidelines in real practice.
- Building a Regional Network: Connecting hospitals, intermediate centers, and community HCPs through a three-level care model to standardize diagnosis, treatment, and management.
- Data Collection & Research: Establishing a regional electronic database to track clinical, organizational, and economic aspects, improving evidence and setting new care standards.
- Education & Quality Improvement: Organizing training, workshops, audits, and scientific meetings to enhance expertise and collaboration.
- Monitoring & Impact Assessment: Evaluating the effectiveness of interventions by measuring clinical, economic, and organizational outcomes pre- and post-implementation.
- Publishing & Knowledge Sharing: Disseminating findings through research papers and conferences, reinforcing Tuscany’s role as a global leader in DF management.
Figure 1: Piaggesi A, et al. The Diabetic Foot Valley Project: bottom-up building of a community of practice for diabetic foot care in Tuscany. Journal of Wound Management. 2024;25(1):31-35.
Articles and Videos
Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice in Integrated Care: The Case of the Diabetic Foot Pathway in Tuscany
This article explores how the Diabetic Foot Pathway in Tuscany effectively integrates theory and practice, offering insights into practical applications of guidelines in diabetic foot care.
The Diabetic Foot Valley Project: A Community Approach to Diabetic Foot Care in Tuscany
This publication highlights the collaborative efforts within the Diabetic Foot Valley Project, showcasing Tuscany’s model as an innovative community-driven approach to managing diabetic foot care.
The Diabetic Foot Valley Project: A Community Approach to Diabetic Foot Care in Tuscany
This blog post provides an overview of the Diabetic Foot Valley Project, detailing how Tuscany’s integrated community approach is transforming diabetic foot care and serving as a potential model for global implementation.
The Diabetic Foot Valley Project: A Model for Implementing Diabetic Foot Syndrome Management
This article from the Integrated Care Journal outlines the Diabetic Foot Valley Project as an effective model for diabetic foot syndrome management, emphasizing its structured approach to improving patient outcomes.
Industry supporters
The Diabetic Foot Valley Tuscany is kindly supported by the following companies:
