Research Article

Counting the cost of preventable diabetes-related lower limb amputations at a single district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal: what does this mean, what can be done?

Published in: Journal of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa
Volume 25 , issue 2 , 2020 , pages: 44–50

DOI: 10.1080/16089677.2020.1782007

Author(s): AT Thompson , South Africa , JL Bruce , South Africa , VY Kong , South Africa , DL Clarke , South Africa , C Aldous , South Africa

Keywords: diabetes mellitus , public health , podiatry , prevention of foot and limb loss , socio-economic cost

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Abstract

Background: Healthcare policy decisions are driven by many factors, including cost, hence the need to show costs of diabetes mellitus-related lower limb amputations (DMLLA) to inform amendments to health care. Substantial decreases in amputation rates are associated with specialised podiatry foot clinics and ongoing foot education, as per national guidelines on the multidisciplinary team approach (MDTA) to diabetes health care. There are only two podiatry posts in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) state health department (DoH).

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