Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Their Recurrence

Lower-extremity complications of diabetes such as foot ulcers constitute a substantial burden for people with diabetes. Once healed, foot ulcers frequently recur. This fact, coupled with demographic trends, requires a collective refocusing on prevention and a reallocation of resources from simply healing active ulcers to maximizing ulcer-free days for all patients with a history of diabetic foot ulceration. Aggressive therapy during active disease combined with a focus on improving care during remission can lead to more ulcer-free days, fewer inpatient and outpatient visits, and an improved quality of life. © 2017 Massachusetts Medical Society.