Practical Geriatrics ›› 2026, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (7): 747-756.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-9198.2026.07.020

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Expert consensus on the nursing management of toenail onychomycosis in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus

SONG Pinfang, MIAO Fei, JIANG Cuiping, TAO Xiaoming, QIN Wen, MING Yue, ZHOU Lin, BAI Jiaojiao   

  1. “HaiShang Nursing” Women’s Characteristic Foot Disease Nursing Innovation Studio (SONG Pinfang, ZHOU Lin); Department of Dermatology (MIAO Fei); Department of Endocrinology (JIANG Cuiping); Department of Geriatrics (QIN Wen); Diabetic Foot Care Clinic (MING Yue); Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Clinic (BAI Jiaojiao), Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China;
    Shanghai Key Laboratory of Geriatric Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 200040, China (TAO Xiaoming)
  • Received:2026-01-12 Published:2026-07-21
  • Contact: BAI Jiaojiao, Email: bjj163163@163. com

Abstract: Objective To standardize an expert consensus on the nursing management of toenail onychomycosis in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus, so as to guide clinical nursing practice. Methods A consensus development group was established. Relevant clinical decisions, practice guidelines, evidence summaries, expert consensuses, systematic reviews and group standards addressing the nursing management of toenail onychomycosis in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus were systematically retrieved from domestic and international databases and relevant websites. The search timeframe was from the inception of each database to April 2025. After literature screening and quality evaluation, 27 publications were finally included, consisting of 14 guidelines, 6 evidence summaries, 3 systematic review, 3 expert consensuses and 1 group standard. Evidence was synthesized to formulate the initial draft of the consensus. From October to December 2025, 15 experts and 10 experts in medical care for diabetes, onychomycosis, and geriatrics were invited to participate in a round of expert consultation and an expert panel meeting respectively. Through these processes, the initial draft items were revised and refined, and the level of evidence and strength of recommendations were determined. Subsequently, the final version of the consensus was established. Results The consensus comprised 35 items covering 4 themes: assessment, management, health education, and professional training for toenail onychomycosis in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus, thereby establishing a nursing framework for this condition. Conclusions This consensus provides practical guidance for clinical healthcare professionals to effectively manage toenail onychomycosis in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus, and to effectively prevent the occurrence and progression of diabetic foot.

Key words: elderly diabetes mellitus, toenail onychomycosis, diabetic foot, nursing, expert consensus

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