The 2nd Diabetic Foot Seminar in Cyprus was organised by the Cyprus Association of Internal Medicine, Cyprus Association of Diabetologists, and Cypriot Society of Podiatrists and was held at the University of Nicosia.

Numerous distinguished guests were invited to the seminar, and their

This seminar, which was addressed to the medical professionals, created greater awareness of the need to implement a diabetic foot clinic as soon as possible, and it also stressed the absolute need of a podiatrist as a member of the multidisciplinary diabetic team. Doctors from various disciplines were invited to talk about their role in the treatment of the diabetic foot and, most importantly, their role in the multidisciplinary team.

The President of the Association for the Study of Diabetic Foot Disease in Greece, Dr Christos Manes, talked about the socioeconomic impact of diabetic foot disease, a lecture that gave the audience the real dimension of the problem around the world and particularly in Greece.

Dr Dimitris Vogiatzoglou, representative of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) in Greece and a diabetologist from the same association in Greece, talked about the pathogenesis of diabetic ulceration. Dr Papas then elaborated on the differences between the ischaemic and neuropathic foot.

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Dr Edmonds from the UK has stressed the important role of podiatrists within the context of support and confidence in the environment of the multidisciplinary team; in fact he considers the podiatrist as the' jewel of the team'. He presented his esteemed team in the UK and proved that such a team can be a reality anywhere in the world. He also emphasised the necessity of a 24-hour emergency clinic in order to prevent further complications that can rapidly evolve. He said that the participation of podiatrists in other parts of the health care system, within the structure of the preventive care of the diabetic foot, was also very important. The preventative care and the education of diabetic patients are necessary in order to act in time and maintain a good quality of life for this group.

Dr Sicco Bus from the Netherlands, a scientist who has contributed extensively in the area of pressure distribution, presented the importance of the offloading of a wound as well as the importance of preventative and therapeutic footwear. His contribution to diabetic foot care is well known around the world.

Professor Karel Bakker, Chairman of the International Diabetes Federation CS/ International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot, said that he was very pleased about the organisation of this seminar and the huge interest of the medical profession regarding the problem of the diabetic foot in Cyprus.

He was supportive of the participation of podiatrists in public health care, even if the appropriate regulation of the Law in Cyprus is still pending on the provision that these podiatrists are well qualified and specially trained in treating the diabetic foot. He added that since the government was recognising the need for podiatrists to enter public health care, podiatrists should be employed by the government without any hesitation.

The Cyprus Government has been recognising this need, and the Minister of Health, Mr Costas Kadis, during his opening speech, promised that within the framework of the continual upgrading of health care services in Cyprus, and in collaboration with the Associations involved and the Pancyprian Medical Association, new services and new adjustments in public health care services would evolve to deal with the problem of the diabetic foot in Cyprus.

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In one of the hospitals in Cyprus there is already great interest in diabetic foot care, and there is a proposal from the Cypriot Society of Podiatrists to start up a diabetic foot clinic there, even on a voluntary base as a start in order to create pressure towards establishing these clinics all over Cyprus. In the meantime, the Association, together with the Ministry of Health, will be working hard to organise educational programmes for health care professionals and diabetic patients.

Diamanto Maliotou, MSc, BSc (Hons), President of the Cypriot Society of Podiatrists & Representative of the International Working Group of the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) for Cyprus