The Diabetic Foot

It has been more than 4 years since the first edition of The Diabetic Foot was published. Over this period of time, it has become absolutely clear that diabetes is becoming a pandemic that challenges the health care resources of all societies, from the developing ones to the most advanced. It is therefore not surprising that diabetic foot disease is still a major problem and, if anything, is growing in size rather than coming under control. One positive development is that our knowledge of the pathophysiology of foot pr- lems in diabetes has considerably expanded. Furthermore, it has been realized that impairment in wound healing is associated with pathways that are related to the dev- opment of cardiovascular disease, both in the micro- and macrocirculation. In The Diabetic Foot: Second Edition, we have tried to keep the spirit of the first edition, which is to give the interested reader a full view of diabetic foot disease and to emphasize the need for a multidisciplinary approach inits management. As with the first edition, we have relied on the long tradition of the Joslin-Beth Israel Deconess Foot Center, one of the oldest and most experienced diabetic foot centers. We have also tried to emphasize new developments in basic and clinical research that we hope will be translated to clinical practice in the future.

From the reviews of the second edition:

"This book is a must for any practitioner treating diabetic foot patients. With an array of authors from renowned institutions, this book has satisfactorily taken on the enormous task of providing current information on the management of the diabetic foot, while reinforcing well-established protocols, principles, and treatments. . .Particularly well done is the chapter on clinical examination and identification of the at-risk patient, which presents key questions for identifying ulcer risk and assessing a diabetic foot wound. Several chapters informatively and clearly address the vascular complications and surgical treatments available. Also well-covered is diabetic polyneuropathy. In this challenging yet common complication of diabetes, the author does an excellent job of classifying various syndromes of diabetic neuropathy, including differential diagnosis, causes, and management. The surgical chapters describe an array of options for the surgical practitioner. Of note is the section on amputations and rehabilitation in which the authors provide an innovative view of amputations as a procedure to enable the patient to return to productive community activity instead of failure or the start of disability.
It is a pleasure to review such an insightful book full of information, new and old, that can be easily incorporated into the daily treatment of the diabetic foot patient. I highly recommend this book as an additional reference for those involved in the complicated task of medical and surgical management of the diabetic foot." -Doody's Health Sciences Book Review Journal

"The topics covered range from proven preventive strategies to cutting-edge wound care techniques that draw on such new developments as growth factors and living skin equivalents. A detailed review of the pathophysiology of the diabetic foot is also included. The emphasis throughout is on a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates the services of diabetologists, podiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, orthotists, diabetic nurse educators and others. Numerous black-and-white color photographs, drawings, algorithms, and charts illustrate the text" - Consultant

"Overall, this is an excellent text. Dr. Veves and his colleagues have provided a scholarly and multidisciplinary summary of an increasingly common clinical problem faced by all vascular surgeons. This book will be of great value to vascular surgeons, orthopedic surgeons who treat diabetic foot problems, and other specialists who treat these patients." -Annals of Vascular Surgery

"This book provides detailed information on the medical and surgical management of the diabetic foot. With chapters from many eminent contributors, the book will serve as an excellent point of reference to most departments involved in diabetic foot care." -European Journal of Endovascular Surgery

"The 37 experts contributing to this excellent new book can help the reader appropriately advise and treat patients to minimize the bad outcomes-otherwise inherent in diabetes." - Comprehensive Therapy

"The extensive literature on the diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) that has appeared over the past decade reflects the importance of this serious complication … . This book was first published more than 4 years ago and is now in its second edition, and it includes chapters written by many well-known specialists. It provides comprehensive coverage of many important aspects of DFS … . Overall, this textbook is worth reading and … it provides up-to-date information on many aspects of this important and increasingly common condition." (R. Landgraf, Diabetologia, Vol. 50 (3), 2007)

"The first edition of this book appeared in 2002 … . In the spirit of their first effort the editors continue here their aim of ensuring an up-to-date text for both the scientific and humanistic care of patients with diabetes. … this volume is a must. Surgeons need to be as informed about the care of diabetics as some of their non-surgical colleagues. This text is a start." (L. de Cossart, British Journal of Surgery, Vol. 94, April, 2007)

"This book, part of the Contemporary Diabetes series, is a comprehensive and essential resource for any practitioner involved in the treatment of the diabetic foot. … Input has been sought from all of the specialties involved in treatment of the diabetic foot, thus reinforcing the multidisciplinary approach. … will be of particular value to the practitioner, but some students, particularly in podiatry, will find it a wonderful resource, too. … is a must have for those who provide care to patients with this condition." (Martin C. Yorath, Doody’s Review Service, September, 2006)