[The diabetic foot: the Cinderella of complications]

The problems of the diabetic foot in general are badly known by patients as well as caregivers. They represent yet a major health problem. Recall that if the ulcers are treated early and adequately, they will heal in 70 to 90% of cases. "The diabetic foot" encompasses the whole of the anomalies of the function and/or of the structure of the foot, linked directly or indirectly to hyperglycaemia. The involvement of nerves, arteries and infection can concentrate on the foot that is also called the "crossroads of complications". These various complications are reviewed in detail. The neuropathy mainly sensitive with the diminution or even the disappearance of the sensitivity to pain and its modes of detection as well as this awful and poorly known complication that is the Charcot foot. The arteriopathy sub-diagnosed and yet very frequent, its modes of detection and its treatment. The difficulties of diagnosis of infection, another serious danger for the foot, its classification and treatment. The care of the wounds whose size and depth are too often under-estimated, their classification of important prognostic value. The care of the diabetic foot wounds too often treated as "classic" wounds forgetting those topics mentioned above will be described focusing on their specific characteristics which are debridement and above all offloading. The importance of the primary and secondary prevention will be highlighted.