Does intensive glycaemic control promote healing in diabetic foot ulcers? - a feasibility study.

Introduction: One in four diabetes patients will develop a foot ulcer over their lifetime. The role of glycaemic control in the healing of foot ulcers in diabetes patients is not supported by randomised controlled trial (RCT) data.

Objectives: To determine the feasibility of an RCT of glycaemic control with intensive insulin therapy in diabetic foot ulcer, by assessing: entry criteria, fasting capillary blood glucose (FCBG) medication satisfaction and sensitivity of different ulcer-healing endpoints to glycaemic control.

Pedobarography as a clinical tool in the management of diabetic feet in New Zealand: a feasibility study.

Background: The peripheral complications of diabetes mellitus remain a significant risk to lower-limb morbidity. In New Zealand, risk of diabetes, comorbidity and lower-limb amputation are highly-differential between demographic groups, particularly ethnicity. There is growing and convincing evidence that the use of pedobarography - or plantar pressure measurement - can usefully inform diabetic foot care, particularly with respect to the prevention of re-ulceration among high-risk patients.

Calciphylaxis - A case study in a patient with Maori heritage.

This case history describes a rare complaint - Calciphylaxis, seen in a New Zealand Maori patient undergoing renal dialysis. This condition causes non-healing tissue ulceration, typically with sepsis and is associated with a very high mortality rate. The need for vigilance among health professionals is highlighted, including the risk factors that may faciliate an early diagnosis; together with the value associated with a multi-disciplinary team approach to management.