New cost of diabetes data
recently released demonstrates that diabetes continues to be a
staggering economic cost for companies and the health care system.
One in every five health care
dollars is spent caring for someone with diabetes, while one in ten
health care dollars is attributed to diabetes. In 2007 the total
annual economic cost of diabetes in medical expenditures and lost
productivity was estimated to be $174 billion, an increase of 32
percent since 2002. The 2007 per capita annual costs of health care
for people with diabetes is $11,744 a year, of which $6,649 (57
percent) is attributed to diabetes.
Medical expenditures attributed
to diabetes $116 billion, including $27 billion for care to directly
treat diabetes, $58 billion to treat diabetes-related complications
and $31 billion in excess general medical costs.
People with diagnosed diabetes,
on average, have medical expenditures that are approximately 2.3
times higher than those without diabetes.
Diabetes accounts for 15 million
work days absent, 120 million work days with reduced performance, 6
million reduced productivity days for those not in the workplace,
and an additional 107 million work days lost due to unemployment
disability attributed to diabetes.
People with diabetes need to pay
special attention to their feet and watch carefully for any signs of
complications.
People who have diabetes should
consider the following information.
• Wash feet daily: Using mild
soap and lukewarm water, wash feet in the mornings or before bed
each evening. Dry carefully with a soft towel, especially between
the toes, and dust feet with talcum powder to wick away moisture. If
the skin is dry, use a good moisturizing cream daily but avoid
getting it between the toes.
• Inspect feet and toes daily:
Check feet every day for cuts, bruises, sores or changes to the
toenails, such as thickening or discoloration. If age or other
factors hamper self-inspection, ask someone to help, or use a
mirror.
• Lose weight: People with
diabetes are commonly overweight, which nearly doubles the risk of
complications.
• Wear thick, soft socks: Socks
made of an acrylic blend are well suited, but avoid mended socks or
those with seams, which could rub to cause blisters or other skin
injuries.
• Stop smoking: Tobacco can
contribute to circulatory problems, which can be especially
troublesome in patients with diabetes.
• Cut toenails straight across:
Never cut into the corners, or taper, which could trigger an ingrown
toenail. Use an emery board to gently file away sharp corners or
snags. If nails are hard to trim, ask podiatric physician for
assistance.
• Exercise: As a means to keep
weight down and improve circulation, walking is one of the best
all-around exercises for the diabetic patient. Walking is also an
excellent conditioner for the feet. Be sure to wear appropriate
athletic shoes when exercising. Ask a podiatric physician what’s
best.
• See your podiatric physician:
Regular checkups by your podiatric physician— at least annually—are
the best way to ensure that feet remain healthy.
• Be properly measured and fitted
when buying new shoes: Shoes are of supreme importance to diabetes
sufferers because poorly fitted shoes are involved in as many as
half of the problems that lead to amputations. Because foot size and
shape may change over time, everyone should have their feet measured
by an experienced shoe fitter whenever they buy a new pair of shoes.
New shoes should be comfortable
at the time they’re purchased and should not require a “break-in”
period, though it’s a good idea to wear them for short periods of
time at first. Shoes should have leather or canvas uppers, fit both
the length and width of the foot, leave room for toes to wiggle
freely, and be cushioned and sturdy.
• Don’t go barefoot: Not even in
your own home. Barefoot walking outside is particularly dangerous
because of the possibility of cuts, falls, and infection. When at
home, wear slippers. Never go barefoot.
• Don’t wear high heels, sandals,
and shoes with pointed toes: These types of footwear can put undue
pressure on parts of the foot and contribute to bone and joint
disorders, as well as diabetic ulcers.
In addition, open-toed shoes and
sandals with straps between the first two toes should also be
avoided.
• Don’t drink in excess: Alcohol
can contribute to neuropathy (nerve damage) which is one of the
consequences of diabetes. Drinking can speed up the damage
associated with the disease, deaden more nerves, and increase the
possibility of overlooking a seemingly minor cut or injury.
• Don’t wear anything that is too
tight around the legs: Pantyhose, panty girdles, thigh-highs or
knee-highs can constrict circulation to your legs and feet, as can
men’s dress socks if the elastic is too tight.
• Never try to remove calluses,
corns, or warts by yourself: Commercial, over-the counter
preparations that remove warts or corns should be avoided because
they can burn the skin and cause irreplaceable damage to the foot of
a diabetic sufferer.
Never try to cut calluses with a
razor blade or any other instrument because the risk of cutting
yourself is too high, and such wounds can often lead to more serious
ulcers and lacerations. See your podiatric physician for assistance
in these cases.
FSM
