Diabetic foot: diagnosis and contemporary treatment

Abstract

Introduction. Diabetic foot (DF) is one of the most serious consequences of diabetes mellitus that can occur during lifetime in these patients. The burden of DF is very high nowadays and is expected to increase more in the future. The incidence of DF is still rising due to the high prevalence of predisposing factors. Most of the DF amputations are preceded by foot ulceration. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a major risk factor for foot ulceration. DPN leads to loss of protective sensation resulting in continuous unconscious traumas. Patient education and detection of “high risk foot” are essential for the prevention of foot ulceration and amputation. Management is based on revascularization procedures, wound debridement, treatment of infection and ulcer offloading.