Over half of all lower-extremity amputations are related to diabetes. Indeed, foot ulceration is an increasing problem worldwide and there is little evidence of a reduction in the numbers of foot ulcers and amputations in people with diabetes. In this article, Loretta Vileikyte argues that in order to alleviate the suffering of people affected by this common and disabling complication of diabetes, we must improve our understanding of the psycho-social factors involved in the development of diabetes foot ulcers; and of the ways in which people’s day-to-day functioning and their quality of life are influenced by foot damage.