When Patients Give Up: Learned Helplessness and Diabetic Foot Care

This episode explains how learned helplessness develops in patients with diabetic foot ulcers, the classic experiments and brain changes behind it, and how healthcare systems can unintentionally create it.

Dr. G reviews practical strategies for reclaiming patient control—micro‑wins, clear plans, visible progress, and team‑based care—and addresses clinician burnout and system fixes to improve limb salvage outcomes.