World Diabetes Day 2018

World Diabetes Day is a moment that marks the fight against diabetes and related complications. Unfortunately, the number of cases of diabetes increases exponentially every day, and the complications associated with this chronic illness, including diabetic neuropathy and diabetic foot, lead to ulceration, and especially in very serious cases of leg amputation.

The key messages transmitted by the International Organization D-Foot through the "FOKUS FEET" campaign reveal a worrying situation, but at the same time bring good and inspirational news to people with diabetes:

• More than 425 million people worldwide are suffering from diabetes1, most of them having type 2 diabetes. Here, it's not only necessary to take care of a large number of cases, but also the fact that two people do not diagnose2 on time. Moreover, official estimates of the International Diabetes Federation for 2045 show that the number of cases of diabetes will reach 629 million3.

• Losing sensitivity in the lower limbs is a consequence of diabetic neuropathy, the main complication that diabetes can cause. Statistics show that 1 out of 4 people with diagnosed diabetes, who will lose sensitivity to their legs, will develop leg ulcers at some point. Moreover, 85% of cases of amputation are caused by these ulcers4.

• Every 20 seconds, somewhere in the world, one person loses one leg for diabetes5. As a result, these people lose their ability to work and integrate properly in society. On the other hand, depression caused by the loss of an inferior member is another extremely serious consequence.

• Complications caused by foot-stage diabetes become an important burden for the health system of any modern society. For example, it is estimated that 12% of the global health budget goes to patients with diabetes mellitus6. This figure is, indeed, huge and alarming: over $ 670 billion each year.

• The prognosis of survival in people with diabetes with diabetes with infected ulcers is only 85% in the first year.

• 17.4% of subjects diagnosed with diabetes suffer from more or less leg and foot amputations in the first year of the first infected ulcer 8.

• The good news is that 8 out of 10 amputations in the early stage of the disease can be avoided through a simple, objective clinical examination of the leg. For this reason, the prevention of amputations must become the main goal of decision-makers in each country.

The FOCUS FEET Campaign, initiated by the International Organization D-Foot, raises a strong alarm signal and aims to raise public awareness of critical complications of diabetes. Thus, the World Diabetes Day marks the awareness that this condition is a danger to any family, but also firmly believes that there is a means to locate and combat this chronic illness in time.