Screening and treatment of early complications in the diabetic foot

Abstract

Foot disease is a potentially devastating complication of diabetes and, as a consequence, a lower limb is lost every 30 s somewhere in the world. In the UK, diabetes-related foot complications are the largest single reason for patients with diabetes to be admitted to hospital (Boulton et al., Lancet 366:1719-1724, 2005). Foot ulceration and infection places a huge burden on healthcare systems, in terms of expenditure and resources. Community care for the diabetic foot is delivered primarily by podiatry services whose aim is to prevent foot ulceration in the first instance, manage foot complications and prevent hospital admission and amputation. However, commonly patients present late or the significance of early complications is not fully recognised. It has been suggested that 85 % of limb amputations could be prevented by early intervention. This chapter focuses on early recognition and management of diabetic foot complications.