The high and growing rates of diabetes in both highly developed and low-income countries throughout the world make managing diabetic foot complications a critical public health problem. In fact, largely because of these foot problems, every 20 seconds a person somewhere in the world undergoes a lower limb amputation as a consequence of diabetes. In addition to the morbidity this causes, the mortality rate among these amputated diabetic patients is similar to some of the most deadly cancers.
The goals of this Symposium are to promote the discussion, sharing and dissemination of scientific knowledge related to various aspects of foot complications in persons with diabetes. This includes prevention, diagnosis, therapy and research in all aspects of the diabetic foot field.
As you know, Turkey serves as a geographic bridge between Europe and Asia. Here, we are aiming to make it an intellectual bridge as well, by bringing together experts and interested individual of all aspects of the diabetic foot from different cultures around the world. In this way we hope to cross-fertilize, and to be able to evaluate and harmonise different approaches. We aim to provide a rich scientific atmosphere to address the different aspects of the issue. Your presence, as a leader in this field, will help us reach these goals.