Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers are painful, open sores that develop on the feet of people with diabetes. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, diabetic foot ulcers can cause extensive damage to soft-tissue and bone that may necessitate amputation. It has been estimated that people with diabetes have about a 15% lifetime risk for developing a foot ulcer. According to the American Diabetic Association, from 1997 to 1999 approximately 82,000 lower-limb amputations were performed each year in people with diabetes. The most common reason for these amuputations was a diabetic foot ulcer. People who develop diabetic foot ulcers also experience an impaired quality of life due to reduced mobility, restricted social activities, and time lost from work.

The chain of events leading to the development of diabetic foot ulcers has been well-characterized and involves a variety of factors. In general, the most common precipitating event is trauma to the foot of a person with diabetes. Other factors that increase the risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers include peripheral neuropathy , peripheral vascular disease , and infection.

Prompt diagnosis and treatment of diabetic foot ulcers is crucial for preventing serious complications and reducing the risk of amputation of the affected limb. Because wound healing is impaired in people with diabetes, controlling wide fluctuations in blood glucose levels is critical for maximizing the outcome for patients with diabetic foot ulcers. The objectives of the management of patients with diabetic foot ulcers include:

• Obtain closure of the wound (ulcer)
• Relive pressure on the foot (off-loading)
• Eradication of infection
• Management of ischemia

Learn more by ordering your MediFocus Guidebook on Diabetic Foot Ulcers, the most comprehensive, up-to-date source of information available. You will get answers to your questions, including:

• What are the risk factors of Diabetic Foot Ulcers?
• What standard and alternative treatment options are available?
• Where are the leading doctors, hospitals and medical centers that specialize in Diabetic Foot Ulcers research and treatment?
• What are the results of the latest clinical trials?
• Where are the support groups and additional resources in my area?
• What are the promising new treatments on the horizon?

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