Diabetics face a whopping 80,000+ lower leg, foot and toe amputations each year, according to an article in the Associated Press. Many of those procedures are avoidable if the patient receives the proper care for their feet, according to experts. However, the cost of doing so and issues with healthcare providers often serve as a roadblock to the necessary care.
Amputation is one of the many scary complications of diabetes and is brought on because diabetics can often have poor circulation in their extremities and their wounds have difficulty healing, leading to infection. In fact, 600,000 diabetics get ulcers on their feet every year. The poor blood flow reduces feeling in the legs and feet, making it more difficult for diabetics to notice small nicks and cuts, which can turn gangrenous quickly and then require amputation. Amputation is often a prelude to the end for many diabetics. About half of diabetics that undergo a foot amputation die within five years.
There are many instances where healthcare providers fail to use common sense in the best treatment of a patient. For example, Medicare paid $1,400 to cover a diabetic’s sore with artificial skin, but wouldn’t pay $100 for a protective walking cast that would prevent the new skin from easily ripping off.
Caring for your feet can be expensive. In fact, treating a problematic foot ulcer can cost as much as $8,000, or more than double that if it gets infected, according to the AP report. So, what should diabetics do to lower their risk?
1 – Get their feet checked regularly. There are many simple tests, such as checking blood pressure at the ankles to monitor circulation that can be done fairly inexpensively. If a patient is deemed at high risk for a foot ulcer, doctors can help lower that risk by checking for foot ulcers and trimming the patient’s toenails.
2 – Use small gadgets to help detect problem areas. A small telescopic mirror, which should cost about $20, can help diabetics check the bottom of their feet for small cuts that they don’t feel. An infrared foot thermometer can help them detect potential ulcers before the skin breaks.
3 – Find supportive shoes or insoles. This can help prevent ulcers from developing.
