Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Madhuri Reddy, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine,
University of Toronto, Associate Editor, Geriatrics & Aging, Toronto, ON.

R. Gary Sibbald, BSc, MD, FRCPC (Med), FRCPC (Derm), MACP, DABD, Associate Professor and Director of Continuing Education, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

Prevention of diabetic foot wounds is of crucial importance. Diabetic foot wounds are basically pressure ulcers due to improper footwear, and therefore the most critical aspect of prevention is wearing proper shoes, checked regularly by a reputable orthotist. Once foot wounds have occurred in a person with diabetes, proper footwear continues to be
crucial. Also of importance are adequate vascular supply, treatment of infection, and surgical debridement, if necessary. All diabetic foot wounds should be probed in order to evaluate depth. If the wound probes to bone, osteomyelitis should be presumed unless proven otherwise.

Key words: diabetes, wounds, ulcers, vascular, infection.