Preventing diabetic foot complications. Tight glucose control and patient education are the keys.

Foot disease is a common complication of diabetes that can have tragic consequences. Tight glucose control can reduce microvascular diabetic complications, including peripheral sensory neuropathy and thus development of foot ulcers. Patient education is essential for risk-factor reduction and early recognition of foot complications. Awareness and training of healthcare providers in diagnosing and treating diabetic foot disease are paramount and may begin with such simple measures as adding a wall poster or chart reminder to conduct foot examinations in all diabetic patients at every office visit.