Learning Objectives:

• Differentially diagnose foot ulcers
• Identify assessment components for patients with diabetes who have foot ulcers
• Identify appropriate management principles for patients with diabetes who have foot ulcers

This program has been developed by the Queensland Health Diabetic Foot Innovation Project and endorsed by the Steering Committee, Statewide Diabetes Clinical Network. The project was funded through Innovation Funding (available under the Queensland Government's Action Plan to support the introduction of innovative approaches to patient care and service delivery improvement).

This unit was reviewed by Dr Natalie Burch. Dr Natalie Burch (B.Sc., M.B.B.S., DRANZCOG, FRACGP) works as a rural general practitioner in Scottsdale, Tasmania. Her special interests in medicine include mental health, family planning and low risk obstetrics, minor surgery and emergencies.

Content expert: Mr Peter Lazzarini.

Pete Lazzarini B.App.Sci (Podiatry), Grad Cert (Health Management)

Pete Lazzarini has been a qualified podiatrist since 1997, whose professional interests include models of care in diabetes, especially involving the diabetic foot. He received recognition as an Advanced Clinical (Diabetes) Podiatrist in 2005 by Queensland Health, following his work with high risk diabetic foot management. In the same year, he went on to complete a Graduate Certificate in Health Management at the Queensland University of Technology. In 2006 he was the primary author for the diabetic foot & podiatry sections of the Queensland Health ‘Guidelines for the Care & Referral of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes’.

He is on many diabetes & podiatry steering committees, including:

• Member of the Queensland Health Statewide Diabetes Network Management Committee
• Co-Chair of the Queensland Health Diabetic Foot Steering Committee
• Member of ADEA ‘Development of Diabetes Self Management Education through General Practice Project’ National Steering Committee
• Chair of Australasian Podiatry Conference Committee
• Vice-President and Public Sector representative on the Australian Podiatry Association (Queensland)
• Queensland Delegate on the Australasian Podiatry Council Board.

Pete’s substantive position is as a Queensland Health Podiatrist in the Northside District. However, he has been seconded and is currently working as a project manager for the Queensland Health ‘Diabetic Foot’ Innovation Project.