Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetic Foot Care
August 04, 2007
Diabetologist
Every 30 seconds a leg is lost to diabetes somewhere in the world. The development of foot problems is not an inevitable consequence of having diabetes. Indeed, most foot lesions are preventable. However, recent statistics are somewhat depressing: approximately a quarter of all people with diabetes worldwide at some point during their lifetime will develop sores or breaks (ulcers) in the skin of their feet. Moreover, as the number of people with diabetes rises worldwide, there can be little doubt that the burden of diabetes-related foot problems will increase in future years, particularly given that at least one in 10 people at the time of diagnosis of type 2 diabetes has risk factors for foot damage. The average cost for primary healing in the USA has been estimated to be between US$7,000 and US$10,000. The direct cost of an amputation associated with the diabetic foot is estimated to be between US$30,000 and US$60,000. The estimated cost for three years of subsequent care ranges from US$43,000 to US$63,000 -- mainly due to the increased need for home care and social services. The corresponding cost for individuals with primary care has been estimated to be just over US$16,000 to nearly US$27,000. In addition to these costs, there are indirect costs due to loss of productivity to consider. If cost estimates are broadened to include the costs to the individual and loss of quality of life, then the estimated cost of the diabetic foot in the USA is some US$4 billion a year.
Good news is that up to 85% of diabetic foot amputations can be prevented with well-organized diabetic foot care, good diabetes control, education and well-informed self care.
In this video Dr.Kshitij Shankhdhar, a Consultant Diabetologist from India talks about various aspects of diabetic foot care.
(contact email: doctorfordiabetes@gmail.com)
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