Biomarkers to predict outcomes in diabetic foot ulcers

Abstract Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) are among the most feared complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). The management of DFUs emphasizes limb salvage, and to achieve this, clinical tools are utilized to identify patients who may require a more aggressive initial approach. Current clinical prediction models fail to account for variability in ulcer characteristics and patient‐specific comorbidities, limiting their precision in individualizing outcome prediction. This review explores the emerging role of molecular biomarkers in personalizing DFU outcome prediction. The pathophysiology of DFUs is examined with an emphasis on disruptions in wound healing specific to DM, focusing on biomarkers involved at different stages of wound healing. This review highlights studies that have shown predictive potential of several biomarkers in a variety of biological samples from patients with DFUs. Despite promising findings, challenges remain in their clinical adoption. Larger studies and the development of accessible, biomarker‐based diagnostics are essential to translate this approach into clinical settings and ultimately reduce the global burden of DFUs through personalized therapy, which would considerably increase the quality of life of people with DM.