Diabetes foot wounds led to 2,000 foot amputations in Canada in 2011-12: report

TORONTO – A new report says more that 2,000 foot amputations took place in Canada in 2011-12 due to wounds that were a complication of diabetes.

It suggests with diabetes rates on the rise, the burden of what are called compromised wounds will likely increase.

In addition to the toll placed on the person who loses a foot, the report suggests foot amputations inflict a high price on the health-care system.

It says amputations cost between 10 and 40 times more than the cost of effective measures to prevent the need for amputation.

It underscores the importance of good foot care for people with diabetes, which causes nerve damage in and poor blood flow to extremities like the legs and feet.

As a result, people with diabetes are less likely to notice and treat a small cut or a blister, and the disease inhibits their ability to heal.

The Canadian Diabetes Association urges people with the disease to check their feet daily for cuts or breaks in the skin and to have their feet checked at least once a year by a doctor.