Presentation of diabetic foot complications

Complications associated with a diabetic foot may include:

• foot ulcers:
  • may be neuropathic or arterial
  • often develop beneath the first metatarsal head or between the toes
  • if neuropathic the ulcer may be painless and deeply penetrating
  • infection is often with Staphylococcus aureus
    
    
• painful necrosis of individual toes:
  • toes may turn blue and then black and mummified
  • toes may then be shed spontaneously
  • toe necrosis also occurs in non-diabetic patients with arterial insufficiency but in diabetic patients the risk of infection is greater
    
    
• extensive spreading skin necrosis:
  • may follow superficial or deep infection
    
    
• chronic ulceration:
  • as a result of pressure sores or minor trauma