Diabetic Foot Conditions
How common do diabetics develop problems with their feet?
Diabetes is the modern plaque. As we can see in the following diagrams, diabetes is fast becoming a global epidemic.
Internationally...
In the US, diabetes is a significant health care burden.
In Singapore, we have also seen a rising trend as compared to the world
There are some interesting facts about diabetics and foot problems:
The lifetime risk for foot problems 30%
> 50% of all foot wounds become infected, require hospitalization and 1 in 5 will end up with amputation
Foot problems account for largest number of hospital bed days used for diabetic patients
Every 30 minutes, a limb is lost to a landmine but every 30 seconds, a limb is lost due to diabetes
Risk of recurrent ulcers are greater than 50% after 3 years
Over 700 Amputations done in Singapore in 2001
Two-thirds of elderly patients undergoing amputation do not return to independent life
A Diabetic patient may develop small wounds and may neglect their wounds but the wounds may rapidly progress and develop infected gangrene.
— Graphic images below. Hover to view —
Diabetic foot wounds
The Goal is to
Prevent amputations
Return the patient to walking