Diabetic foot ulcers are a major cause of morbidity.. Foot ulcer accounts for approximately 25 percent of all hospital stays for patients with diabetes. 70-80% of nontraumatic amputations are on diabetic patients Foot ulcers precede approximately 85% of all amputations performed in diabetic patients. These facts illustrate the need for early identification and aggressive treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and the measures to prevent their recurrence.

Common causes for foot ulcer are numbness or poor sensation in the foot (Diabetic Neuropathy), poor blood supply to foot and improper foot wear. Changes in biomechanics of the foot due to neuropathy leads to development of callosity over pressure points in the foot. This leads to development of ulcer (Plantar trophic ulcer). Since the pain sensation is diminished patient becomes unaware of injuries or ulcer leading to spread of infection. When blood supply is reduced due to block in the arteries the ulcer does not heal. Poor sugar control is another important cause for infection and spread leading to gangrene of the toes or the foot.