DECODE DIABETIC FOOT: An effective treatment for diabetic foot

Diabetic foot is one of the most serious and painful chronic complications of diabetic patients. As the incidence of diabetes in China has increased year by year, the incidence of diabetic foot has also increased. Based on the latest epidemiological survey results, the annual incidence rate of diabetic foot in China is up to 8.1%, the recurrence rate of diabetic foot ulcer after healing is up to 31.6%, and the mortality rate is up to 14.4%, causing a great burden on patients, families, hospitals and society.Relying on the Endocrinology Department of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (the Second Hospital affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University), a key national clinical specialty, guided by Professor Li Yan, assisted by Professor Chuan Yang and other team members, the the Diabetic Foot Center of the Second Hospital affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University has taken the lead in carrying out comprehensive prevention and treatment research and clinical diagnosis and treatment program of diabetic foot in China. A multi-disciplinary diabetic foot prevention and treatment team has been established to take the endocrinology department as the core and to include the departments of orthopedics, orthopedics, vascular surgery, ultrasound, imaging and intervention. It has established the regular consultation system for difficult cases. It has established one of the diabetic foot studios with the most advanced equipment and the most complete functions in China so far, as well, has carried out the lower-limb vascular interventional examinations and endovascular treatment, so that the comprehensive strength has reached the domestic leading level. It has been one of the most influential units for diagnosis and treatment of diabetic foot and training base for special doctors in southern China. "Series for Diabetic Foot Research " got the top ten scientific and technological highlights in our hospital in 2011. "Diabetic Foot Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment" took first prize in the annual novel medical technology evaluation held by our hospital in 2013.By continuous efforts and explorations guided by Professor Li Yan and Professor Chuan Yang for nearly two decades, with the support of school, hospital and leaders, the pathogenesis of diabetic foot has been proposed as following: Because the increase in glucose levels in the human body and the increase in age, as well as the accompanied diabetic peripheral angiopathy and neuropathy, cause the decline of regeneration ability and resistance of foot skin, if foot skin is injured, it is easy to develop a serious infection. Once the infection occurs and it is not cured, the toxins released by the bacteria and the inflammatory response provoked will make the existent diseases of the important organs such as heart and kidney aggravated in diabetic patient, make the patient's condition worse to make the wound more difficult to heal. Such a vicious circle eventually leads to the death of the patients. On this basis of the pathogenesis, a series of generalizable, replicable and universal diabetic foot treatment systems and concepts have been gradually formed. In the past 20 years, our center has cured more than 4,000 cases of the patients with diabetic foot, has made the supramalleolar amputation rate of the patients with diabetic foot reduce to 5% and made the mortality rate reduce to less than 1%, achieving the international level. Read more