The Diabetic Foot

Diabetes is present in 16 million Americans. Half of all lower extremity amputations in this country occur in this patient group (1). In most cases, the amputation is needed when a foot ulcer does not heal. The incidence of diabetic foot ulcers is 1–4%, whereas the prevalence is 5–10% (2,3). A patient with diabetes has a 15% risk for developing a foot ulcer during his/her lifetime. Six to ten percent of hospitalizations in patients with diabetes...