The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot

Chairman
K.G. Harding, Cardiff, UK

Members working group:
J. Apelqvist, Lund-Malmø, Sweden
M.E. Edmonds, London, UK
J. Embil, Winnipeg, Canada
F. Gottrup, Odense, Denmark
V. Falanga, Providence, USA
L. B. Harkless, San Antonio, USA
P. Holstein, Copenhagen, Denmark
W.J. Jeffcoate, Nottingham, UK
P. E. Price, Cardiff, UK
K. van Acker, Antwerp, Belgium

The aims of the wound care document were to provide the state of the art on wound healing, on barriers to healing, and on treatments for diabetic foot ulcers. Unfortunately it became clear to International Consensus Working Group that the evidence base to produce practical guidelines on wound care is lacking. The current document should therefore be seen as a progress report, which was agreed upon at the Consensus/Implementation meeting. During this meeting, it was also decided that there is a great need for practical guidelines and a more evidence-based report. The IWGDF hopes that within the next few years more solid data will become available. Therefore, it was decided that the present consensus process will be continued and that within four years the practical guidelines will be produced, in combination with a shorter version of the current document.

Content Wound Healing and Treatments for People with Diabetic Foot Ulcers
- Introduction
- The normal healing process
- The effect of diabetes on healing
- Barriers to healing and initiation of the healing process
- Dressings and other therapies for Diabetic foot ulcers
- The role of surgery
- Design and outcome in research studies on wound management
- Diabetic foot ulcer classification system for research purposes


Wound Healing and Treatments for People with Diabetic Foot Ulcers
	Chairman K.G. Harding, Cardiff, UK Members working group: J. Apelqvist, Lund-Malmø, Sweden M.E. Edmonds, London, UK J. Embil, Winnipeg, Canada F. Gottrup, Odense, Denmark V. Falanga, Providence, USA L. B. Harkless, San Antonio, USA P. Holstein, Copenhagen, Denmark W.J. Jeffcoate, Nottingham, UK P. E. Price, Cardiff, UK K. van Acker, Antwerp, Belgium The aims of the wound care document were to provide the state of the art on wound healing, on barriers to healing, and on treatments for diabetic foot ulcers. Unfortunately it became clear to International Consensus Working Group that the evidence base to produce practical guidelines on wound care is lacking. The current document should therefore be seen as a progress report, which was agreed upon at the Consensus/Implementation meeting. During this meeting, it was also decided that there is a great need for practical guidelines and a more evidence-based report. The IWGDF hopes that within the next few years more solid data will become available. Therefore, it was decided that the present consensus process will be continued and that within four years the practical guidelines will be produced, in combination with a shorter version of the current document. Content Wound Healing and Treatments for People with Diabetic Foot Ulcers - Introduction - The normal healing process - The effect of diabetes on healing - Barriers to healing and initiation of the healing process - Dressings and other therapies for Diabetic foot ulcers - The role of surgery - Design and outcome in research studies on wound management - Diabetic foot ulcer classification system for research purposes