“Most of the time it is you podiatrist that will be amongst the first to let you know if you have diabetes or not.” – American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
Surprisingly enough the fact above is overlooked by the medical community so much so that it might even come as a surprise to some doctors but that is the truth and it is backed up by hard facts and research studies which show that not only can podiatrist save patients limbs but their preventative measures can impact everyone in the community as a whole. Through regular checkups, especially with diabetic patients, the chances for amputations decrease greatly and the costs associated with it for the patient, the hospital and everyone else paying taxes can decrease in millions, resulting in improvements in our healthcare which is always struggling in our country despite the billions of dollars spent annually.
Thompson Reuters, an internationally respected private research firm whom expertise is especially in healthcare, came out with a new study with results that speak volumes regarding the importance to the whole society regarding a podiatrists involvement in early care for diabetic patients. This study was also sponsored by the American Podiatric Medical Association and the brief synopsis and results are as follows..
The study examined records for more than 32,000 diabetic patients between the ages 18-64 and more than 43,000 diabetic patients over the age of 65. The study focused on health and risk factors between those who had podiatric visits defined as at least one pre-ulcer visit (look in the previous blog to see a picture of a controlled ulcer) to those who did not. The results were as such that those with podiatric visits significantly lowered their risks for hospitalizations and amputations; in the 18-64 age group, 15 percent lowered their odds of amputation and 17 percent lowered their odds from hospitalization. Patients 65 years old and over who had at least one pre-ulcer visit with their podiatrist lowered their risk of major amputation by 23 percent and hospitalization by 9 percent.
Along with the findings adove, the study also demonstrated the cost saving benefits when podiatrists are given the opportunity for preventative care in the chronically ill patients. Every dollar invested in podiatric care for patients in the 18-64 age group resulted in $27-$51 in health-care cost savings and $9-$13 of savings per dollar invested in patients 65 and older.
Furthermore, even as little as 20 percent increase in podiatric care in just patients with diabetes alone can result in annual savings of $191 million!
These hard facts can only solidify the presence of a podiatrist in the medical community and echo the sheer importance of seeing a podiatrist regularly especially if you are a diabetic patient. Remember always, it is better to be safe than sorry, early than late, especially when it can have life changing outcomes which will impact your daily life forever.
