Treatment of the diabetic foot
Table of contents
Extract
- Diabetes predisposes the patient to foot deformities, infections and ulcers.
- The most significant causes of foot problems are neuropathy Diabetic neuropathy1 and ischaemia Lower limb ischaemia2 associated with external injury.
- Follow-up and early treatment prevent complications and amputation. Even minor skin injuries should be treated without delay.
- A total-contact cast, therapeutic shoe or other offloading will help to treat chronic ulcers Treatment of lower extremity ulcers3.
- Critical ischaemia Lower limb ischaemia2 should be recognized and treated immediately with vascular surgery.
- An erythematous, hot and swollen foot in a patient with diabetes must be considered Charcot’s foot until otherwise proven.
Search terms
Administration, Topical, Bacterial Infections, Cefadroxil, Cefuroxime, Cellulitis, Ciprofloxacin, Clindamycin, Cloxacillin, Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Diabetic Foot, Diabetic Neuropathies, E10.4, E10.5, E11.4, E11.5, Endocrinology, Foot Ulcer, G63.2, I70.2, Internal medicine, Ischemia, L03.9, M14.6, M86*, Onychomycosis, Orthopaedics, Osteitis, Paronychia, Penicillin G, Peripheral Nervous System Diseases, Physical medicine, Potassium Permanganate, Radiography, Soft Tissue Infections, Surgery, Tinea Pedis, ankle pressure, ankle-brachial index, antimicrobial therapy, autonomic neuropathy, bacterial culture, bone scan, cast treatment, chronic ulcer, critical ischemia, deformity, diabetic ulcer, hyperkeratosis, infectious eczema, ischemic ulcer, media sclerosis, moccasin tinea pedis, neuropathic ulcer, neuropathy, sensory, probing, toenail, walking cast