DIABETIC FOOT ULCER

Course overview

DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS ARE AMONG THE MOST COMMON COMPLICATIONS OF PATIENTS WHO HAVE DIABETES MELLITUS WHICH IS NOT WELL CONTROLLED. IT IS USUALLY THE RESULT OF POOR GLYCEMIC CONTROL, UNDERLYING NEUROPATHY, PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE, OR POOR FOOT CARE. IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE COMMON CAUSE FOR OSTEOMYELITIS OF THE FOOT AND AMPUTATION OF LOWER EXTREMITIES. THESE ULCERS ARE USUALLY IN THE AREAS OF THE FOOT WHICH ENCOUNTERS REPETITIVE TRAUMA AND PRESSURE SENSATIONS. STAPHYLOCOCCUS IS THE MOST COMMON INFECTIVE ORGANISM. THE DISEASE IS TYPICALLY CHRONIC, AND AN INTERPROFESSIONAL APPROACH WILL HAVE THE BEST OUTCOME. THE COMBINED INVOLVEMENT OF PODIATRIST, ENDOCRINOLOGIST, PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN, VASCULAR SURGEON, AND AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST IS EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION, TREATMENT, AND COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS AND UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM APPROACH TO ITS MANAGEMENT.