Diabetes mellitus contributes to a number of disorders that can affect the quality of life. Amongst this diabetic foot syndrome and diabetic foot ulceration are serious secondary complications of diabetes mellitus. Persons with diabetic foot ulceration have an increased risk of amputation. In the first part of this review the author focuses on the pathophysiology of diabetic foot ulceration. The second part covers the topics of current and future therapies. The reader will understand the need and modes for preventive measures, the importance of multi level education in this topic, and the need for specialized wound care centers. As emphasized by the author, diabetic foot syndrome and ulceration are serious complications of diabetes mellitus, which can lead to devastating lower-extremity amputations and possible death. Specialized wound care centers, multi level education and proper adherence to standard treatment regimes can potentially prevent the need for amputation. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 1171–1177.[Formula: see text]