[Diabetic foot disease--a review of pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of diabetic podopathy].

An update is presented of the pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of diabetic podopathy. Although the underlying conditions, polyneuropathy and peripheral ischaemic vessel disease presently cannot be cured, their complications, i.e. foot ulcers, foot gangrene and foot fractures in most cases can nowadays be treated successfully without major amputations.