DIABETES is a global disease suffered, only in Europe, by 60 million people - nearly 8% of the European population. This disease frequently affects the lower limbs, namely the foot, where a number of irreversible changes related to the body occur. These changes may cause serious complications (i.e. ulceration and/or gangrene) that lead to amputation in many cases.

Expert medical reports indicate that the main cause of complications on diabetic feet is INADEQUATE FOOTWEAR. Thus, producing and using adequate footwear is the pillar to prevent the DIABETIC FOOT SYNDROME.

In general, diabetic patients are broadly supported, including in the educational strand. However, there is a point that education has not reached yet: the relationship between FOOTWEAR and DIABETIC FOOT CONTROL. That is why the Erasmus+ DiaSHOE project was born: to provide a set of 3 EDUCATIONAL PACKAGES for different target-groups that will develop knowledge on the problematic in order to improve the quality life standards of diabetic people.

These educational packages will provide the information needed to develop and produce diabetic footwear, from healthy aspects up to finished shoes. The information will be addressed to 3 different groups: detailed information for FOOTWEAR TECHNICIAN,  DESIGNERS and PRODUCT MANAGERS, key information about footwear properties for HEALTH PROFESSIONALS and SHOE-SHOP ASSISTANTS and key information to educate PATIENTS and their FAMILIES, INFORMAL CAREGIVERS and EDUCATORS.

The DiaSHOE CONSORTIUM gathers footwear research institutes (CTCP, INESCOP, COKA, PFI), a digital education resources developer (GLOBALNET), a university (TUIASI) and a footwear association (CEC) that will joint efforts to provide a contribution to the above identified need.

In the DiaSHOE project, STAKEHOLDERS will be involved in the VALIDATION OF THE TOPICS that will be dealt with in these educational packages as well as the final contents. To do so, this QUESTIONNAIRE has been prepared. It will collect, as far as possible, the information and facts that will help footwear SMEs develop diabetic footwear for patients who can still wear mass-produced footwear.

Before proceeding to fill up the questionnaire, the DiaSHOE consortium would like to clearify that, to select these initial topics, research that had been already conducted has been used. Additionaly, it should be taken into account that the DiaSHOE project is not trying to create any prototypes for theoretical or practical testing.