Diabetic Foot Society of India calls for global alliance

The Diabetic Foot Society of India (DFSI) has penned a letter to Zulfiqarali G. Abbas, president of the Pan-African Diabetic Foot Study Group (PADFSG), seeking the establishment of a global alliance focused on diabetic foot survival and limb preservation. The letter, obtainable via The Hindu, highlights diabetic foot ulceration as a largely unrecognized contributor to premature death, major amputations, chronic illness, disability, and social isolation.

The DFSI contends that the disease, which boasts a five-year mortality rate similar to certain cancers, receives significantly inadequate investment, policy focus, organized frameworks, and post-amputation support relative to its prevalence.

In light of this, the DFSI, alongside King’s College London, the International Association of Diabetic Foot Surgeons, D-Foot International, the American Limb Preservation Society, the Federation of International Podiatrists, and PADFSG, has proposed forming a Global Alliance for Diabetic Foot Survival and Limb Preservation. This alliance aims to establish a sustained scientific and policy platform dedicated to prevention, limb preservation, enhanced survival, rehabilitation, surveillance, research, and collaboration with governments and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The DFSI intends to publicly announce its intent to form this alliance at its upcoming national conference on October 2, 2026, without implying any legal formation or financial commitments by the participating institutions.

The letter further requests the PADFSG to express preliminary agreement with the alliance's formation and the proposed conference announcement. It also includes a draft Joint Global Declaration for mutual consultation and debut, soliciting feedback on the proposal and the draft declaration. The DFSI pledges to convene the inaugural founding meeting of the alliance within 30 days of the conference, contingent on the PADFSG's endorsement.

The alliance's primary objectives encompass advocacy for WHO and national governments to formally acknowledge diabetic foot disease as a critical medical concern, enhancing survival and quality of life through multi-disciplinary care and patient-focused research, promoting prevention, early detection, and prompt referral, advancing surveillance and the establishment of registries, bolstering post-amputation rehabilitation, fostering research and training initiatives, and ensuring active participation of individuals with diabetes in governance and program planning.

The proposal outlines the alliance's membership structure, governance, the Secretariat, anticipated activities, donor engagement, financial management, a performance evaluation framework, and risk mitigation strategies. The draft declaration emphasizes the recognition of diabetic foot disease as a significant cause of premature death, disability, and social exclusion.

It urges the WHO Director-General, regional directors, and member states to integrate diabetic foot prevention, limb preservation, and survival into diabetes policy, establish standardized indicators and baseline registries, and support flagship programs in at least two WHO regions. The draft declaration sets a goal to reduce risk-adjusted five-year mortality after a new diabetic foot ulcer by 30% and potentially decrease avoidable major amputations by 50% by 2030.

It advocates for coordinated efforts to keep individuals alive, mobile, included, and capable of living with dignity.