Vnitr Lek 2001, 47(5):311-314

[The diabetic foot syndrome--one of the most serious complications in diabetics].

A Jirkovská: Centrum diabetologie Institutu klinické a experimentální medicíny, Praha.

The diabetic foot syndrome is defined according to WHO as ulceration of the foot (distally from the ankle and including the ankle) associated with neuropathy and different grades of ischaemia and infection. It is the most frequent cause of hospitalization of diabetic patients. It is one of the economically most demanding complications of diabetes. According to international consensus on the diabetic foot syndrome should be organized at the level of general practitioners as well as at the level of special diabetological centres. The basic organizational unit of multidisciplinary team care of patients with the diabetic foot syndrome is foot clinic. The diabetologist is the main coordinator of the foot clinic and responsible for all stages of treatment of patients with the diabetic foot syndrome. Essential members of the team taking care of patients with the diabetic foot syndrome are podiatric nurses, a specialized general and vascular surgeon, an intervention radiologist and prosthetist. In the diagnosis of the diabetic foot syndrome vascular examination is most important, neurological preliminary examination, assessment of the compensation of diabetes and the presence of infection. In treatment non-weight bearing, better vascularization, treatment of infection, improvement of the metabolic condition and prevention of reulcerations are most important.