The Dutch consensus on the diabetic foot

In 1996 the Dutch Diabetes Federation installed a consensus committee to fo rmulate practical guidelines for daily practice to prevent. diagnose and tr eat foot-related complications in patients with diabetes mellitus. A list o f definitions was formulated. A new ulcer classification was introduced. Pa thophysiology, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies were discussed with sp ecial attention for patients with a high risk foot and for prevention instr uction. After several rounds of implementation the definite document was un animously accepted in the fall of 1998. (C) 1999 Federation of European Mic robiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.