Objective To develop a decompression nursing program for prevention of recurrence in elderly patients with diabetic foot and evaluate its application effect.Methods A decompression nursing program for the prevention of recurrence in elderly patients with diabetic foot was developed through literature research and expert consultation.A total of 72 elderly patients with diabetes vi-siting the multidisciplinary outpatient clinic for diabetic foot were selected and randomly divided into two groups.The control group received routine nursing care, while the observation group was subjected to the decompression nursing program for prevention of recurrence.The recurrence rate of diabetic foot, plantar pressure indicators, foot self-care behavior scores, and diabetic foot risk levels were compared between the two groups before intervention, and at 3 and 6 months of the intervention.Results Thirty-five cases in the observation group and 32 cases in the control group completed the study.At 6 months of the intervention, the recurrence rate of foot ulcers, abnormal rates of plantar pressure center trajectory in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P＜0.05).At 3 and 6 months of the intervention, the mechanical indicators of plantar pressure and foot self-care behavior scores in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group, and there were statistically significant differences in effects between groups, over time, and interactions (all P＜0.05).The risk level of diabetic foot was significantly better in the observation group than in the control group at 3 and 6 months of the intervention (all P＜0.05).Conclusion The decompression nursing program for the prevention of recurrence in elderly patients with diabetic foot can effectively improve excessive plantar pressure and reduce the recurrence rate of diabetic foot.