Diabetic Limb Salvage (DLS)

What is Diabetic Limb Salvage (DLS)?

The Diabetic Limb Salvage (DLS) programme at Sengkang General Hospital is dedicated to helping people with diabetic foot ulcers, infections, and other diabetes-related foot complications preserve their limbs, mobility, and quality of life.

Through early assessment, timely treatment, and personalised care, we aim to promote wound healing, control infection, and reduce the risk of amputation. Our goal is to save as much of the affected limb as possible while supporting the patient’s overall health and recovery. 

Our team brings together specialists from different disciplines, using a wide range of advanced diagnostic tools, non-invasive therapies, and surgical techniques to deliver coordinated, evidence-based treatment tailored to each patient’s needs. 

At SKH, we are committed to providing seamless, patient-centred care that supports individuals throughout their treatment journey, helping them maintain function, independence, and a better quality of life.
 

Our Vision

To serve the needs of our patients by preventing, treating, and preserving limbs affected by diabetic foot complications, whilst advancing the standard of diabetic foot care in Singapore. 

Our Mission

• Preventative treatment to decrease the risk of diabetic foot complications 
• Early monitoring and timely treatment to help prevent complications and reduce the risk of limb loss  
• Early rehabilitation to restore functionality, mobility, and quality of life
• Continuing research to improve the quality of care through academic medicine

Patient Care Services

At our specialist outpatient clinic, our plastic surgeons and nurses work together to develop personalised treatment plans and provide wound care tailored to each patient's needs. For patients who require admission, our team of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals delivers coordinated care, managing each patient's condition holistically — from optimising nutrition and blood sugar control, to supporting mobility and providing customised footwear and 3D-printed insoles tailored to individual needs. 

Our care does not stop at discharge. We continue to support patients through regular podiatry reviews, insole adjustments, and access to prosthetic services where needed. This helps patients return to their daily activities, maintain independence, and achieve the best possible quality of life. 

Treatment Results

• Wounds That Heal Better and Faster:  Almost all our patients — 95 out of 100 — had their wounds heal completely. Our patients also recovered faster, with wounds healing in about 2 months on average. 
• Saving Your Limb; Keeping your foot or leg is at the heart of everything we do. Following our treatment, only 1 in 100 patients needed a major amputation, such as losing a foot or leg. Smaller procedures, like removing a toe, were also uncommon, affecting only 5 in 100 patients. 
• Stopping Wounds from Coming Back: Healing a wound is only part of the journey — we also work hard to make sure it does not return. Only 6 in 100 of our patients saw their wound come back after healing. 

Our patients are not just statistics — they are people who have returned to walking, working, and living their lives. 

Read more about our programme and the patients we have helped here: [https:www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/saving-diabetic-feet-saving-livelihood]

Getting Help

If you or your loved one has a diabetic foot wound or a foot infection that is not healing, please do not wait and seek help early. The sooner you get treatment, the better the chances of saving your limb. 

Step 1: See your doctor first  Visit your preferred polyclinic, where a doctor can assess your condition and refer you to our team.

Step 2: Visit our Emergency Department for urgent concerns (e.g., Patient experience fever, swelling, pain, heavy discharge or foul-smelling wound) If your condition is serious or worsening quickly, go straight to our Emergency Department (ED) without delay. Prompt treatment can make a big difference. 

Have questions? Call us at (65) 6930 5000 (24 hours) 

_Reference 

_{Feng, J. et al. (2025). A multidisclipinary approach for diabetic foot ulcer management: soft tissue reconstruction and preventive strategies – J of Lower Limb Wound Care  
Link: A multidisciplinary approach for diabetic foot ulcer management: soft tissue reconstruction and preventive strategies | Journal of Lower Limb Wound Care}