The cost of diabetic foot problems.

Diabetic foot problems are the commonest and most morbid complications of diabetes and constitute a major cost to any health care system. Foot problems result in the greatest number of admissions to hospital, and these become extremely costly. The demonstration in many areas of the health service that care, education, and the provision of good support to people results in fewer foot problems must be the spur for all those involved in diabetes care to improve services in all localities. Foot ulceration is much more common in deprived areas, and urgent research is required to determine exactly why this occurs so that appropriate remedies can be applied.