It is not diabetic foot: it is my foot.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the experiences of patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

METHOD: This qualitative study, using patient interviews, focused on how inpatients receiving treatment for diabetes experience the disease. Patients were selected using a purposive sampling method.

RESULTS: A total of 15 patients participated in the study. Following analysis of patient interviews, four main themes were determined: 'developing diabetic foot', 'living with diabetic foot', 'coping with diabetic foot' and 'expectations'.

CONCLUSION: Most of the patients were afraid of losing their feet and had difficulties in coping with the situation. Patients expected health professionals to understand the difficulties they were experiencing. To better understand the needs and experiences of patients, healthcare professionals should work with these patient groups as part of in-service training programmes. Such programmes should also include therapeutic communication techniques and models for professional patient-client communication.