Learning Objectives:

• Identify appropriate education for patients with diabetes at risk of foot complications
• Identify to whom patients with diabetes at risk of foot complications should be referred
• Indicate when patients with diabetes at risk of foot complications should be referred to specialists

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).

Expert presenter: Mr Peter Lazzarini, Podiatrist.

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

References:
[1] National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care. Type 2 diabetes: prevention and management of foot problems. 2004. London: National Centre for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Viewed on 22/07/2008, at: http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG010NICEguideline.pdf
[2] International Diabetes Federation. Diabetes Education Modules. 2006. Brussels: International Diabetes Federation. Viewed on 28/08/2008, at: http://www.idf.org/home/index.cfm?node=1554