The spectrum of diabetic foot disease: etiological considerations and prediction of outcome

A foot problem caused by diabetes may lead to foot amputation. Nerve damage associated with diabetes may prevent inflammatory reactions from being initialised properly. As a result, the severity of diabetic foot disease may be underestimated. Nerve damage may also prevent inflammatory reactions from being timely inhibited. Both situations may lead to severe tissue damage and amputation. In several cases, including infection and arterial occlusions in patients with diabetic foot disease, it is shown that the chance of cure and risk of amputation can be predicted based on easily obtainable data, allowing the best treatment for each individual to be chosen.