[Surgical management of the diabetic foot]

Diabetic foot is one of challenging diseases in vascular surgery. This is based on uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and its true character is the neuropathic gangrene due to microangiopathy. Diabetic foot, however, is sometimes accompanied by peripheral arterial occlusive disease, which true status is macroangiopathy. Therefore, the strategy for diabetic foot is as follows;the first step is the infection control by minor amputation and/or drainage, the second step is the assessment of the limb ischemia, and the final is the complete vascular reconstruction. To salvage these diabetic feet, it is important that doctors, who concern to diabetics, understand these strategies and also that they have a settled opinion for the diabetic foot.