Managing diabetic foot ulcers: economic consequences in the USA

In the USA, 11 million people are currently diagnosed with diabetes - poor glycemic control increases their risk of developing diabetes-related complications. Foot ulcers are one of the more common complications and patients developing foot ulcers are at a higher risk of having a lower extremity amputation. The majority of foot ulcers are managed in an outpatient setting, but hospitalization accounts for approximately three quarters of the total expenditures on medical care related to diabetic foot ulcers. A series of initiatives from the US government and healthcare providers aim to improve the management of diabetes, but more research is needed to establish which reduce the prevalence of foot ulcers and to establish the most cost-effective approach.