Greeks Do Away with diabetic Shoe Program

[GiftedPoster22]

It is less expensive to amputate rather than limb salvage. I have a feeling that America will and should follow suit eventually.

As a country we can't continue to pay for diabetic shoes at the rate we are nor the BS toe nail debridements we are doing every two months.

It may be best, if the Diabetics who are poorly controlled and poorly compliant many times simply have an amputation at the knee rather than whittle away and do all this EXPENSIVE wound care for them. Plus many of them are life long recipients of social programs and have not paid for this level of care in my opinion.

We are dumping way too much of our resources as a country into diabetic foot care.

Tough times calls for tough decisions. Personally, I am in favor of this esp if there is national health care.

http://dailycaller.com/2010/10/11/greek-health-system-opts-for-amputation-as-money-saver/

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[347932]

Ummm move to Greece then?

 

[diabeticfootdr]

It is less expensive to amputate rather than limb salvage....

We are dumping way too much of our resources as a country into diabetic foot care.

Tough times calls for tough decisions. Personally, I am in favor of this esp if there is national health care.

Sorry, but you're just plain wrong. Limb salvage is more cost effective than amputation.(1) Not to mention the 5 year relative mortality rate after amputation is 48-62%, higher than many cancers.(2)

Diabetic foot ulcers and amputations cost roughly $30B in 2007 and simple preventative measures like prescription shoes or foot thermometers could save up to $20B annually if adopted system-wide.(3)

1. Driver VR, et al. The costs of diabetic foot: The economic case for the limb salvage team. J Vasc Surg 2010;52:17S
2. Armstrong DG, et al. Guest editorial: are diabetes-related wound and amputations worse than cancer? Int Wound J 2007;4:286
3. Rogers LC, et al. The right to bear legs - An amendment to healthcare: How preventing amputations can save billions for the US health-care system. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 2008;98:3

 

[itswiggles]

^^^^^^^^pwned^^^^^^

 

[PADPM]

"giftedposter",

Since you've only posted on this forum twice, I'd like to know your background and/or experience? Other than emotion, what do you base your opinions on or how did you arrive at these rather bold statements?

Do you have any experience in this particular field or do you have any statistics to support your thoughts..... other than a poor decision by a government with a failing economy?

 

[347932]

Stop feeding the troll folks lol. Please.

 

[GiftedPoster22]

Ok call me crazy for saying the obvious, but why the hell is the government, which is having financial problems....

1. Paying for shoes for people who can afford and should buy their own diabetic shoes. I don't really care if they are too cheap and don't buy them and get an ulcer and lose a limb, it's called personal responsibility, something the old people in this country are not good at these days.

2. Why are we paying for nail care every two months... these people can and should be extended to twice a year nail debridements. And if they want more, they can pay cash. It's not that expensive and that's what they should do with their money.

3. diabetes is largely related to lifestyle. I can't really feel sorry for them and I don't think they should be draining the resources of the country to pay for their existence. They made their bed, they should rest in it. Treating diabetics as a national plan is a waste of resources. much better to invest in the youth of this country than the old fat people who havent taken care of themselves IMO.

4. In summary diabetics should buy their own diabetic shoes with their own money. No more gov hand outs for this group of unhealthy money pits. It seems to me a waste of money.

Diabetics cost too much and this in one way to cut costs and unload thses burdensome medicare/medicaid bandits from the rolls...

Think of how many young people could have their education free if diabetics paid for their own darn shoes and would only get their nails cut every 6 months.

The gov needs to get out of the medical pedicure and fancy velcro shoe business and focus on important things. Most of the nails pods are debriding.... well you all know the scam and so does the gov. It's a matter of time before this medical PORK gets trimmed, mark my words.