In 1996 a group of experts in the field of the diabetic foot expressed the need for an international set of definitions and guidelines on prevention and management of the diabetic foot. A Pilot Working Group of 15 experts was formed, which met in early 1997 for 1 1/2 days to formulate the aims, the specific topics of the document and the procedures to be followed. The text was divided in several chapters, for each one or more specialists were assigned as primary writers and an editorial board was set up to guide the process.
Based upon the outlines provided by the Pilot Working Group, the texts were reviewed by the editorial panel several times and in a collaboration with the authors a set of preliminary texts were produced. In 1998 these texts were presented during a two day meeting to "The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot". This group of 45 experts from all continents included general practitioners, diabetologists, podiatrists, diabetic nurses, general-, vascular- and orthopedic surgeons. Also representatives from several international organizations participated. Based upon extensive discussion in subgroups and general sessions a list of modifications was agreed upon. After the meeting the texts were rewritten by the editorial board in close association with the original authors. In this process the document were send twice to the International Working Group for comment. Finally, the document was approved by all members of the International Working Group and the consensus was launched during the Third International Symposium on the Diabetic Foot in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands, May 5-8, 1999.
After the successful launching of the International Consensus document and Practical
Guidelines on the Management and Prevention of the Diabetic Foot at the 3rd International
Symposium in 1999 (currently translated into 22 languages) it was time to initiate new consensus projects. The editorial board of the IDF Consultative Section on the Diabetic Foot and IWGDF decided in 2000 that documents were to be produced on the infected diabetic foot, wound healing and on an ulcer classification for research purposes as these topics were not covered in depth by the 1999 Consensus document.
Three consensus groups were formed and each had a chairman who communicated with the editorial board of the IWGDF, which in its turn was responsible for the communication with the members of the IWDGF. The members of each consensus group were representatives of the IWGDF and/or well known experts in the field; in addition the classification group included researchers who had developed an ulcer classification scheme in the past. The consensus procedure was followed according international rules. Each group was asked to produce a text which was in line with the International Consensus of 1999 and with other related consensus projects, such as the TransAtlantic interSociety Consensus group on peripheral arterial disease and the Infectious Disease Society of America which was in the process of formulating guidelines on foot infections in diabetic patients. First, the topics and agenda were chosen, and in collaboration with the editorial board preliminary texts were produced by the three working groups. In this phase the chairman of each group was in close contact with the editorial board. The texts were subsequently sent to all members of the IWDGF to be commented on. The editorial board edited the comments and the new text was send back to the chairmen of the working groups for their final comments. This process was repeated until the versions were agreeable for all people involved. The last versions were discussed in depth during a Consensus/ Implementation meeting of the IWDGF in May 21st 2003 in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, preceding the 4th Symposium, May 22nd – 24th 2003.
An interactive CD-Rom was printed containing the newly approved 3 supplement texts
(2003). Furthermore, the Practical Guidelines on the Management and Prevention of the
Diabetic Foot in English, Spanish and French and the original International Consensus document (1999) were included in the CD-Rom as well as a picture gallery as an interactive search system, which was presented to all participants at the closure of the 4th Symposium.More detailed information on the content of the three consensus supplements is displayed here.
Consensus proces
Consensus text is based upon:
