What is the diabetic foot ?

Abstract

The diabetic foot is defined as the anatomical area below the malleoli in a diabetic patient. Complications of the foot are the commonest cause of hospital admissions in the diabetic. The major adverse outcomes of foot complications are foot ulcers and amputations. 70% of all non-traumatic amputations world-wide are in diabetic patients and 85% of these are preceded by a foot ulcer. A number of risk factors including peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease and infection, work together to cause ulceration. This article discusses the aetiopathogenesis of diabetic foot complications.