Diabetes & Charcot: By the Numbers

37.3 million

Americans currently live with diabetes, with more than 20% of those believed to be undiagnosed.¹

Diabetic foot is one of the leading causes of patient disability worldwide.²

Around the globe, data show that diabetes leads to

one major limb amputation every 20-30 seconds, with more than 2,500 limbs lost each day.³

Diabetics are

20x

more at risk for lower extremity amputation.⁷

Black Americans face rates of amputations up to 4x higher than non-Hispanic white Americans.⁴

People of color and lower socioeconomic status are disproportionately affected.¹

1.4

million

Americans are diagnosed with diabetes each year.¹

Hispanic/Latino communities are

1.5x

more likely to have an amputation and Indigenous communities face amputations rates that are 2x higher than those among non-Hispanic white Americans.⁴

Remember: While Charcot is not reversable, the progression of the disease may be managed and more serious outcomes, like amputation, can be avoided if addressed by a healthcare provider in a timely manner.

Importance of Saving a Limb

Lower extremity amputation (LEA) is linked to high rates of mortality. Mortality risk increases when people are unable to walk after the normal recovery period.⁵

One amputation often leads to another – 68% of people who undergo an LEA will face the same outcome on the other limb within five years.⁶

Avoiding amputation may help protect a person’s quality of life and significantly reduce long-term healthcare costs.²

"Charcot neuropathy is the most debilitating condition that I treat, and it requires addressing not just the orthopedic deformity but also the metabolic disorder. The mortality rate of diabetics who have a limb amputated is extremely high, with greater than 50% of patients dying within five years of amputation. As foot and ankle surgeons, we know that preservation of a limb can mean preservation of a life."
– Mario A. Cala, DPM

Prevention May Be Possible

"Today, 85% of diabetes-related amputations are preventable"

Dr. Jon Bloom

CEO, and Co-Founder of Podimetrics and a Founding Partner of the Amputation Prevention Alliance

Access to quality care and earlier intervention remains the challenge that leads to unnecessarily high rates of amputations, particularly among people of color.¹

You may play an important role in preventing Charcot and its complications.

Regular foot examinations are a great way to identify risk factors early on. They can be done at home daily but are recommended at least once per year by a qualified foot and ankle surgeon.⁷

Other important steps you can take include:

Keeping blood sugar levels (aka your A1C) under control
Taking care to avoid injury, and treating injuries quickly after they happen
Keeping open wounds clean and dry to prevent infection
Following the care team's advice for short- and long-term treatment plans
Embracing the Team Approach

Early intervention is key. It may save a limb or even a life.

References:

Statistics About Diabetes. American Diabetes Association. (2022.) https://diabetes.org/about-us/statistics/about-diabetes.
Walicka, M., Raczyńska, M., Marcinkowska, K., Lisicka, I., Czaicki, A., Wierzba, W., & Franek, E. (2021). Amputations of Lower Limb in Subjects with Diabetes Mellitus: Reasons and 30-Day Mortality. Journal of diabetes research, 2021, 8866126. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8866126.
Bharara, M., Mills, J. L., Suresh, K., Rilo, H. L., & Armstrong, D. G. (2009). Diabetes and landmine-related amputations: a call to arms to save limbs. International wound journal, 6(1), 2–3. https://doi.org/10.1111/ j.1742-481X.2009.00587.x.
American Diabetes Association Unveils Amputation Prevention Alliance to Address the Diabetes-Related Amputation Pandemic. American Diabetes Association. (2022). https://diabetes.org/newsroom/press-releases/2022/ ADA-unveils-amputation-prevention-alliance-to-address-diabetes-related-amputation-pandemic.
Wukich, D. K., Ahn, J., Raspovic, K. M., Gottschalk, F. A., La Fontaine, J., & Lavery, L. A. (2017). Comparison of Transtibial Amputations in Diabetic Patients With and Without End-Stage Renal Disease. Foot & Ankle International, 38(4), 388–396. https://doi.org/10.1177/1071100716688073.
Singh N, Armstrong DG, Lipsky BA. (2005.) Preventing foot ulcers inpatients with diabetes. JAMA 2005; 293:217–28.
Ang, G. Y., Yap, C. W., & Saxena, N. (2017). Effectiveness of Diabetes Foot Screening in Primary Care in Preventing Lower Extremity Amputations. Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 46(11), 417–423.