FLIRT-Bird

Therapeutic footwear is essential for keeping diabetic foot ulcers under control and preventing new ones from developing. 

FLIRT-Bird’s aim is to provide low-cost, long-lasting, fit-for-purpose footwear to diabetes patients all over the world regardless of their ability to pay. Research shows that footwear can prevent ulcers and lower-limb amputations. 

Flirt-Bird’s goals are to identify standard specifications for therapeutic footwear, train people to manufacture footwear from local materials and create awareness of the value of the footwear for the diabetes patient.

The FLIRT-Bird project is integrated with the WHO ”Global Cooperation on Assistive Medical Technology (GATE)”⁴ initiative, in which D-Foot is a recognised educational partner for therapeutic footwear.

Project Liaison: Gulapar Srisawasdi

Project Manager: Dennis Janisse

Project team: Neil Baker, Zahid Miyan, Kristien Van Acker

 

Supporting documents 

1. Characteristics, prevalence, and outcomes of diabetic foot ulcers in Africa. A systemic review and meta-analysis. Rigato M, Pizzol D, Tiago A, et al. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2018 Aug;142:63-73. 

2. Effectiveness of offloading methods in preventing primary diabetic foot ulcers in adults with diabetes: a systematic review. Heuch L, Streak Gomersall J. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2016 Jul;14(7):236-65.

3. Offloading effect of therapeutic footwear in patients with diabetic neuropathy at high risk for plantar foot ulceration. Arts ML, Waaijman R, de Haart M, et al. Diabet Med. 2012 Dec;29(12):1534-41.

4. WHO Global Cooperation for Assistive Technology (GATE).