In diabetic patients the susceptibility to all infectious diseases is increased. Diabetic foot infection is the most common cause of application to the hospital and has the longest stay in hospital of all the complications of diabetes. Diabetic foot infection is the cause of 50–70% of nontraumatic major extremity amputations. Diabetic foot infection usually occurs as a result of the wound, not the cause.

When faced with diabetic foot infection, the first treatment is to get rid of the infective load from the affected extremity as soon as possible, after physical examination and evaluation of ischemia. Since diabetic foot infection progresses rapidly and aggressively, the diagnosis and treatment should also be carried out rapidly and aggressively. Necrotic, gangrenous and infected tissues should be cleaned and debrided; and this is possible with the drainage of abscess focus, opening the affected compartments, the debridement of bad, infected, necrotic material and with amputations. If there is an extended infection which affects the entire extremity or a septic condition is observed, it should not be avoided to take a decision of major amputation and perform it as soon as possible.