OBJECTIVES: To determine optimal strategies for diabetic foot care in times of pandemic.

METHODS: Systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines from May to December 2021, using Pubmed, Scopus, SCIelo, CINAHL and Lilacs databases, with the descriptors DeCs: Diabetic foot, (diabetic foot) AND: (disease prevention), (nursing care), (nursing care), (nursing care)) AND (disease prevention), (nursing care) AND (Strategies), (Coronavirus infections), (Coronavirus infections) Queries Covid-19 articles Category: General, ((diabetic foot) AND (nursing care)) AND (Coronavirus infections). Studies from 2018 to August 2021 were considered.

RESULTS: Out of 2464 articles, 28 were selected and evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. 29% articles (8) were developed in countries belonging to Europe, followed by 25% (7) articles from countries in Asia and North America, 14% (4) from countries in South America and 4% (1) article from Oceania and Africa. The results obtained were differentiated between face-to-face and non-face-to-face strategies. Within the latter group, the lines of action defined in the Chilean National Telehealth Program were used to classify the results.

CONCLUSIONS: The optimal strategies for diabetic foot care in times of pandemic were classified as face-to-face and non-face-to-face. As face-to-face strategy, foot care education and complications were identified. As non-face-to-face strategies, are those focused on the use of tele-education for patients and te-learning for professionals, in addition to support in the evaluation of lesions with telemedicine, tele-assistance, telemonitoring and telefolow-ups. The elements inherent to e-health should be considered, such as: infrastructure, collaboration with the private, associative and multisectoral sectors, evaluations of cost-effective models, adaptation of services to the needs of the population, particularly vulnerable groups.