Diagnosis and Management of Diabetic Foot Complications

Foot problems in diabetes are common and costly, and people with diabetes make up about half of all hospital admissions for amputations. In the United Kingdom, people with diabetes account for more than 40% of hospitalizations for major amputations and 73% of emergency room admissions for minor amputations. Because most amputations in diabetes are preceded by foot ulceration, a thorough understanding of the causes and management of ulceration is essential. This treatise will therefore focus on the pathways that result in foot ulcer development, the importance of regular screening to identify members of the at-risk population, and multiple aspects of novel treatment approaches. Care of the foot in diabetes often falls between specialties, and a team approach is required. Thus, we have assembled a team of experts in the care of diabetes-related foot conditions from a variety of specialties, including endocrinology; dermatology and wound healing; infectious diseases; and podiatric, plastic, and vascular surgery.