DIABETES-RELATED AMPUTATIONS PREVENTABLE WITH REGULAR FOOT EXAMS

Every week in Australia about 70 people undergo a diabetes-related amputation. "The cost is around $25,000 for an amputation, then $8000 every year after that to the health system," Dr. Peta Tehan, a podiatrist and researcher based at the University of Newcastle, said.

 

Dr. Peta Tehan

 

"But the biggest problem is that after someone undergoes a major amputation, their risk of death is around 50 per cent within five years. They don't survive it a lot of the time because they tend to be quite sick and have a lot of co-morbidities." Dr. Tehan said it costs more than $600 million a year to care for people with diabetic foot ulceration - a largely preventable problem with the appropriate care and support.

 

Source: Anita Beaumont, Bendigo Advertiser [12/6/21]

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News