Foot ulcers are a serious complication of
diabetes mellitus that are associated with adverse sequelae and high costs. In addition, such
foot ulcers have a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). For example, the loss of mobility associated with
foot ulcers affects patients' ability to perform simple, everyday tasks and to participate in leisure activities. These and other consequences of
foot ulcers often lead to depression and poor QoL. Notably, several studies have shown that patients with
diabetes mellitus and
foot ulcers were more depressed and had poorer QoL than those who had no
diabetic complications. Given the detrimental effect
foot ulcers have on patients, it is essential that these
foot ulcers are prevented or treated more effectively than at present. Evidence suggests that many
foot ulcers can be prevented by using intensive interventions and adopting a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. In addition, preventative strategies may become more effective if new research into how patients with diabetes experience and interpret their health threats (e.g. diagnosis "loss of sensation" or a
foot ulcer episode) is taken into account. With regard to treatment, new options should enable
ulcers to heal more quickly than with standard
therapies. One area of interest is the use of
growth factors. For example, recombinant
platelet-derived growth factor, in addition to good
ulcer care, has been shown to improve the number of
ulcers that heal and healing times significantly compared with good
ulcer care alone. Other potential new treatments include the use of
skin substitutes. In summary, improved preventative measures and
wound treatment should reduce the potential for patients with
diabetes mellitus to experience impaired QoL caused by
foot ulcers.