Multi-country collaboration targets foot care in patients with diabetes

A foot care project for people with diabetes that has already met with success in Egypt is now underway in China, Zimbabwe and Ecuador through the South-South cooperation by the International Diabetes Federation.

The innovative collaboration, supported by the organization’s Bringing Research in Diabetes to Global Environments and Systems (BRIDGES) program, encourages the sharing of best practices in research and prevention among the low and middle income countries.

“We are building bridges between scientists and diabetes communities worldwide through a unique South-South cooperation,” Linda Siminerio, RN, PhD, CDE, chair of the executive committee of BRIDGES, said. “With over 80% of the people living with diabetes in low and middle income countries, the transfer of knowledge and expertise between these regions is key to tackle the diabetes epidemic and reduce complications.”

The three centers in the selected countries slated to participate include: Qingdao Endocrine and Diabetes Hospital, Qingdao, China; Zimbabwe Diabetes Association, Harare, Zimbabwe; and Ambulatory Healthcare Center CAA Cotocollao, Quito, Ecuador.

Leading up to intervention, local teams receive 4 days of training through a series of workshops organized by Samir Helmy Assaad-Khalil, MD, of the Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Egypt and principal investigator of the original project.

“In less than 2 years in Egypt, we managed to educate more than 2,700 professionals nationwide,” Khalil said. “Almost all universities now have a module on diabetes foot care included in their graduate and post graduate curriculum.”

Supported by an educational grant from Lilly Diabetes, BRIDGES is among many programs by the International Diabetes Federation, which is comprised of over 230 national diabetes associations in 170 countries and territories that represent people with diabetes and those at risk.

For more information: South-south cooperation to improve diabetes care