Sep 12 2007
Diabetic Foot Complications Reduced with Management
An abstract presented at the 2007 American Diabetes Association Scientific Session showed reduced lower extremity complications in diabetics who participated in a diabetic management program.
Reduced Incidence of Diabetes Lower Extremity Complications During Participation in Diabetes Disease Management Programs
Authors:
CARTER COBERLEY, BRENT HAMAR, ZACKARY SAMPLES, MATTHEW MCGINNIS, SADIE COBERLEY, ANDRES PEREZ, DEXTER SHURNEY, Nashville, TN
Study: 337,015 individuals with diabetes were evaluated for 12 months prior to the start of the diabetic program. Individuals were assessed for the incidence of lower extremity complications, which included ulcers, infections and lower extremity amputations. During the first year of the Healthways Diabetes Program, individuals received foot care education, encouragement to receive annual foot examinations with the goal of improving the quality of diabetes care. After the first year in the program, there was a lower incidence of diabetic foot complications, including fewer lower extremity amputations. After a year in the program, the individuals also had fewer physician visits, hospital admissions and lower total healcare costs compared to baseline.
Summary: Participation in a diabetes program is associated with a reduced incidence of diabetic foot complications, lower extremity amputations and associated with fewer physician visits and lower healthcare costs.