A natural history and framework for managing diabetic foot ulcers

When treating diabetic foot ulcers it is important to be aware of the natural history of the diabetic foot, which can be divided into five stages: stage 1 - normal foot; stage 2 - high risk foot; stage 3 - ulcerated foot; stage 4 - infected foot; stage 5 - necrotic foot. This covers the entire spectrum of foot disease but emphasizes the development of the foot ulcer as a pivotal event in stage 3, demanding urgent and aggressive management. Diabetic foot wound care in all stages needs multidisciplinary management to control mechanical, wound, microbiological, vascular, metabolic and educational aspects. Achieving good metabolic control of blood glucose, lipids and blood pressure is important in each stage, as is educational control to teach proper foot care appropriate for each stage. Aggressive management of diabetic foot ulceration will reduce the number of feet proceeding to infection and necrosis and thus reduce the number of major amputations in diabetic foot patients.