presentation of diabetic foot complications
Last reviewed 07/2021
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