Patient-centered decision making and communication with patients with neuropathy and diabetic foot syndrome

Health care providers (HCP) treating patients with neuropathy and diabetic foot syndrome are often faced with recurring ulcers that could theoretically have been avoided if patients had looked after their feet better and sought earlier treatment from a physician. The effects of the loss of protective sensation (LOPS) in the feet are often underestimated, leading to shocked disbelief, helplessness and sometimes anger on the part of the HCPs. Psychological and anthropological theories are helpful to explain how this apparent carelessness comes about, why it is not carelessness at all and recommend ways of communicating with patients with neuropathy to help them feel more supported in their journey with this difficult disease.