Diabetic Foot
A clinical syndrome in people with diabetes characterised by peripheral neuropathy, vascular compromise, and susceptibility to ulceration, infection, and amputation, frequently requiring orthotic management.
Full Definition
The diabetic foot is a complex of pathological changes arising from long-term diabetes mellitus, including peripheral sensory neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, and impaired wound healing, which together predispose the foot to ulceration and serious infection. In orthotic services, management of the diabetic foot involves custom footwear, insoles, total contact casting, and silicone toe props to offload at-risk areas. The term is written as two words without a hyphen in most clinical style guides unless used attributively ('diabetic-foot clinic'). Editors should ensure that 'diabetic foot' is not reduced to 'DF' in formal clinical writing without prior expansion.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate only when used attributively (e.g., 'diabetic-foot ulcer'). Do not confuse with Charcot foot (Charcot neuroarthropathy), which is a specific destructive complication of diabetic neuropathy rather than the broader syndrome.
In Context
- "All patients attending the diabetic foot clinic were assessed for callosity and neuropathy prior to orthotic fitting." — Service audit report
- "Hyphenate 'diabetic foot' only when it directly precedes a noun: 'diabetic-foot ulcer' but 'ulcer of the diabetic foot'." — Style guide note