Diabetic foot infections

The feet of diabetic patients are prone to injury because of their decreased sensation as well as their impaired blood supply. The injury is usually thermal, chemical, or mechanical, and treatment requires a team approach. Evaluation should include vascular and radiologic studies. Treatment, either surgical or nonsurgical, should be aggressive, to attempt to save a limb at risk for loss. Amputation should be personalized with the goal of removing the least tissue consistent with infection resolution. The prevention of future problems, both for the affected foot and the contralateral limb, should not be forgotten, and the many actions patients can take to protect their feet in the future should be stressed.