A Simple Way to Cut Diabetes Costs – Good Foot Care

More than half of diabetes patients are at risk for developing diabetic neuropathy which in severe cases can lead to lower-extremity amputations. As a common cause of hospitalizations among diabetic patients, they drive up diabetes-related costs which totaled $245 billion in 2012, up 41% from 2007. The CDC estimates that good foot care could reduce the risk of amputation in diabetic patients by 45% to 85%. Regular visits to a doctor for foot exams and to a podiatrist to have nails trimmed without damaging the feet can reduce costs per patient by up to $20,000 annually. Joslin Diabetes Center, Feb 2014