Dollars & Feet

A study published by the American Diabetes Association says Medicare pays an average of $11,170 for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers while private insurance doles out $16,883 for the same procedure.

Diabetic foot ulcers are common complications as a result of high glucose levels impeding the immune system from doing its job of reaching the site of foot infections.

This national study concludes a diabetic foot ulcers are a major cause of hospitalization among Medicare patients and impose a major cost on both Medicare and private insurers.

The authors urged both patients and the health care community to be aware of glucose levels as the population ages, be proactive by inspecting feet during doctor visits, and check at home for symptoms of an infection in the feet.