The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWDGF) has produced in 2011 a guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral arterial disease in patients with diabetes and a foot ulcer. This document, together with a systematic review that provided the background information on management, was produced by a multidisciplinary working group of experts in the field and was endorsed by the IWDGF. This progress report is based on these two documents and earlier consensus texts of the IWDGF on the diagnosis and management of diabetic foot ulcers. Its aim is to give the clinician clear guidance on when and how to diagnose peripheral arterial disease in patients with diabetes and a foot ulcer and when and which treatment modalities should be considered, taking both risks and benefits into account. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.