Risk of Foot Ulcer and Lower-Extremity Amputation Among Participants in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications Study

Advanced Mass Spectrometry-Based Biomarker Identification for Metabolomics of Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications

Over the years, there has been notable progress in understanding the pathogenesis and treatment modalities of diabetes and its complications, including the application of metabolomics in the study of diabetes, capturing attention from researchers worldwide. Advanced mass spectrometry, including gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS), etc., has significantly broadened the spectrum of detectable metabolites, even at lower concentrations. Advanced mass spectrometry has emerged as a powerful tool in diabetes research, particularly in the context of metabolomics. By leveraging the precision and sensitivity of advanced mass spectrometry techniques, researchers have unlocked a wealth of information within the metabolome. This technology has enabled the identification and quantification of potential biomarkers associated with diabetes and its complications, providing new ideas and methods for clinical diagnostics and metabolic studies. Moreover, it offers a less invasive, or even non-invasive, means of tracking disease progression, evaluating treatment efficacy, and understanding the underlying metabolic alterations in diabetes. This paper summarizes advanced mass spectrometry for the application of metabolomics in diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic encephalopathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and diabetic foot ulcers and organizes some of the potential biomarkers of the different complications with the aim of providing ideas and methods for subsequent in-depth metabolic research and searching for new ways of treating the disease.

Second Metatarsal Length and Transfer Ulcers After First Metatarsal Amputation in Diabetic Foot Infections

BACKGROUND

Plantar transfer ulcers (TUs) underneath the second metatarsal head are frequent after first metatarsal ray amputations due to diabetic foot infections. Whether the second metatarsal length (2ML) is associated with TU occurrence in these patients is unclear. This study evaluated whether 2ML is associated with TU occurrence after first-ray amputations and whether ulcer-free survival is shorter in patients with "excess" 2ML.

METHODS

Forty-two patients with a mean age of 67 (range 33-93) years, diabetes, and first metatarsal ray amputation (first amputation at the affected foot) were included. Two independent readers measured the 2ML using the Coughlin method. A protrusion of more than 4.0 mm of the second metatarsal was defined as "excess" 2ML. The effect of 2ML on ulcer occurrence was analyzed using a multivariate Cox regression model. A Kaplan-Meier curve for TU-free survival was constructed comparing the 2 groups of "normal" (n = 21) and "excess" 2ML (n = 21).

RESULTS

Interrater reliability was excellent. TUs underneath the second metatarsal occurred in 15 (36%) patients. In agreement with our hypothesis, 2ML was nonsignificantly different in patients with TUs, recording a mean of 5.3 (SD 2.5) mm, compared to patients without 4.0 (SD 2.3) mm (hazard ratio [HR] 1.12, 95% CI 0.89-1.41), whereas insulin dependence was associated with ulcer occurrence (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.11-0.99).

CONCLUSION

In our relatively small study population with a cutoff level of 4 mm for excess 2ML, ulcer-free survival was similar in patients with "normal" and "excess" 2ML.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Decreasing lifetime prevalence of diabetes-related foot ulcers in Norway: repeated cross-sectional population-based surveys from the HUNT study (1995-2019)

Background and aims

Diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFU) are a persistent healthcare challenge, impacting both patients and healthcare systems, with adverse effects on quality of life and productivity. Our primary aim was to examine the trends in lifetime prevalence of DFU, as well as other micro- and macrovascular complications in the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) in Norway.

Methods

This study consists of individuals ≥20 years with diabetes participating in the population-based cross-sectional HUNT surveys (1995-2019). Prevalence ratios, comparing the lifetime prevalence of DFU and other relevant micro- and macrovascular complications between the HUNT surveys, were calculated using Poisson regression.

Results

The lifetime prevalence (95% confidence interval (CI)) of a DFU requiring three or more weeks to heal was 11.0% (9.5-12.7) in HUNT2, 7.5% (6.3-8.8) in HUNT3 and 5.3% (4.4-6.3) in HUNT4. The decrease in DFU prevalence from 1995 to 2019 was observed in both men and women, for all age groups, and for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The highest lifetime prevalence of DFU was found among those with type 1 diabetes. The decrease in HbA1c from HUNT2 to HUNT4 did not differ between those with and without a DFU. The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (eGFR categories G3-G5)) increased in both individuals with and without a DFU.

Conclusion

Results from the HUNT surveys show a substantial decline in the lifetime prevalence of DFU from 1995 to 2019.

Epigenetic modification: A novel insight into diabetic wound healing

Wound healing is an intricate and fine regulatory process. In diabetic patients, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), biofilm formation, persistent inflammation, and angiogenesis regression contribute to delayed wound healing. Epigenetics, the fast-moving science in the 21st century, has been up to date and associated with diabetic wound repair. In this review, we go over the functions of epigenetics in diabetic wound repair in retrospect, covering transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation. Among these, we found that histone modification is widely involved in inflammation and angiogenesis by affecting macrophages and endothelial cells. DNA methylation is involved in factors regulation in wound repair but also affects the differentiation phenotype of cells in hyperglycemia. In addition, noncodingRNA regulation and RNA modification in diabetic wound repair were also generalized. The future prospects for epigenetic applications are discussed in the end. In conclusion, the study suggests that epigenetics is an integral regulatory mechanism in diabetic wound healing.

Biomimetic Hydrogel Containing Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles and Deferoxamine for Photothermal Therapy of Infected Diabetic Wounds

Inducing cell migration from the edges to the center of a wound, promoting angiogenesis, and controlling bacterial infection are very important for diabetic wound healing. Incorporating growth factors and antibiotics into hydrogels for wound dressing is considered a potential strategy to meet these requirements. However, some present drawbacks greatly slow down their development toward application, such as the short half-life and high price of growth factors, low antibiotic efficiency against drug-resistant bacteria, insufficient ability of hydrogels to promote cell migration, etc. Deferoxamine (DFO) can upregulate the expression of HIF-1α, thus stimulating the secretion of angiogenesis-related endogenous growth factors. Copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles possess excellent antibacterial performance combined with photothermal therapy (PTT). Herein, DFO and CuS nanoparticles are incorporated into a biomimetic hydrogel, which mimics the structure and function of the extracellular matrix (ECM), abbreviated as DFO/CuS-ECMgel. This biomimetic hydrogel is expected to be able to promote cell adhesion and migration, be degraded by cell-secreted matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and then release DFO and CuS nanoparticles at the wound site to exert their therapeutic effects. As a result, the three crucial requirements for diabetic wound healing, "beneficial for cell adhesion and migration, promoting angiogenesis, effectively killing drug-resistant bacteria," can be achieved simultaneously.

Metabolic memory: mechanisms and diseases

Metabolic diseases and their complications impose health and economic burdens worldwide. Evidence from past experimental studies and clinical trials suggests our body may have the ability to remember the past metabolic environment, such as hyperglycemia or hyperlipidemia, thus leading to chronic inflammatory disorders and other diseases even after the elimination of these metabolic environments. The long-term effects of that aberrant metabolism on the body have been summarized as metabolic memory and are found to assume a crucial role in states of health and disease. Multiple molecular mechanisms collectively participate in metabolic memory management, resulting in different cellular alterations as well as tissue and organ dysfunctions, culminating in disease progression and even affecting offspring. The elucidation and expansion of the concept of metabolic memory provides more comprehensive insight into pathogenic mechanisms underlying metabolic diseases and complications and promises to be a new target in disease detection and management. Here, we retrace the history of relevant research on metabolic memory and summarize its salient characteristics. We provide a detailed discussion of the mechanisms by which metabolic memory may be involved in disease development at molecular, cellular, and organ levels, with emphasis on the impact of epigenetic modulations. Finally, we present some of the pivotal findings arguing in favor of targeting metabolic memory to develop therapeutic strategies for metabolic diseases and provide the latest reflections on the consequences of metabolic memory as well as their implications for human health and diseases.

Factors associated with diabetic foot ulcers and lower limb amputations in type 1 and type 2 diabetes supported by real-world data from the German/Austrian DPV registry

AIMS

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a leading cause of lower limb amputations in people with diabetes. This study was aimed to retrospectively analyze factors affecting DFU using real-world data from a large, prospective central-European diabetes registry (DPV [Diabetes-Patienten-Verlaufsdokumentation]).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We matched adults with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) and DFU to controls without DFU by diabetes type, age, sex, diabetes duration, and treatment year to compare possible risk factors. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios for amputation among those with DFU.

RESULTS

In our cohort (N = 63 464), male sex, taller height, and diabetes complications such as neuropathy, peripheral artery disease, nephropathy, and retinopathy were associated with DFU (all p < .001). Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was related to DFU only in T1D (mean with 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.8 [6.9-9.0] % vs 7.5 [6.8-8.5] %, p < .001). High triglycerides and worse low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio were also associated with DFU in T1D, whereas smoking (14.7% vs 13.1%) and alcohol abuse (6.4% vs 3.8%, both p < .001) were associated with DFU in T2D. Male sex, higher Wagner grades, and high HbA1c in both diabetes types and insulin use in T2D were associated with increased hazard ratios for amputations.

CONCLUSIONS

Sex, body height, and diabetes complications were associated DFU risk in adults with T1D and T2D. Improvement in glycemic control and lipid levels in T1D and reduction of smoking and drinking in T2D may be appropriate interventions to reduce the risk for DFU or amputations.

Rational Engineering of Islet Tolerance via Biomaterial-Mediated Immune Modulation

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) onset is characterized by an autoimmune attack on β islet cells within the pancreas, preventing the insulin secretion required to maintain glucose homeostasis. Targeted modulation of key immunoregulatory cell populations is a promising strategy to restore tolerance to β cells. This strategy can be used to prevent T1D onset or reverse T1D with transplanted islets. To this end, drug delivery systems can be employed to transport immunomodulatory cargo to specific cell populations that inhibit autoreactive T cell-mediated destruction of the β cell mass. The rational engineering of biomaterials into nanoscale and microscale drug carriers can facilitate targeted interactions with immune cells. The physicochemical properties of the biomaterial, the delivered immunomodulatory agent, and the target cell populations are critical variables in the design of these delivery systems. In this review, we discuss recent biomaterials-based drug delivery approaches to induce islet tolerance and the need to consider both immune and metabolic markers of disease progression.

Targeting DNA methylation and demethylation in diabetic foot ulcers

BACKGROUND

Poor wound healing is a significant complication of diabetes, which is commonly caused by neuropathy, trauma, deformities, plantar hypertension and peripheral arterial disease. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are difficult to heal, which makes patients susceptible to infections and can ultimately conduce to limb amputation or even death in severe cases. An increasing number of studies have found that epigenetic alterations are strongly associated with poor wound healing in diabetes.

AIM OF REVIEW

This work provides significant insights into the development of therapeutics for improving chronic diabetic wound healing, particularly by targeting and regulating DNA methylation and demethylation in DFU. Key scientific concepts of review: DNA methylation and demethylation play an important part in diabetic wound healing, via regulating corresponding signaling pathways in different breeds of cells, including macrophages, vascular endothelial cells and keratinocytes. In this review, we describe the four main phases of wound healing and their abnormality in diabetic patients. Furthermore, we provided an in-depth summary and discussion on how DNA methylation and demethylation regulate diabetic wound healing in different types of cells; and gave a brief summary on recent advances in applying cellular reprogramming techniques for improving diabetic wound healing.

The skin autofluorescence of advanced glycation end-products relates to the development of foot ulcers in type 2 diabetes: A longitudinal observational study

OBJECTIVES

The long-term glycemic memory contributes to vascular complications in type 2 diabetes, including those patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU). We investigated whether the skin autofluorescence (SAF) of Advanced Glycation End-products related to later DFUs.

RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODS

SAF was measured with an AGE-Reader in a retrospective cohort of patients hospitalized from 2009 to 2017 for Type 2 Diabetes. New DFUs were registered until the year 2020 and survival analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The 517 patients (men: 58.0 %), were 62 ± 9 years old at baseline, with a duration of diabetes of 14 ± 10 years, HbA1c: 8.7 ± 1.8 %, complications included 33.8 % macroangiopathies, 44.9 % diabetic kidney diseases and 26.7 % retinopathies. According to the IWGDF classification, the grades of risk for DFU were 0 for 43.2 %, 1 for 23.9 %, 2 for 7.2 %, and 3 for 25.7 %. During the 53 months of follow-up, 58 new DFUs occurred, mostly in patients with SAF higher than its median value (2.65 AU). Adjusted for age and sex, conventional risk factors (duration and control of diabetes, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking), and other complications (macroangiopathy, diabetic kidney disease, retinopathy), SAF related to later DFUs. Adjusted for the IWGDF classification, SAF related to new DFUs (HR: 1.81, 95%CI:1.25-2.62). This relationship was significant for the 403 subjects without previous history of DFU (HR: 2.32, 95%CI: 1.36-3.95). SAF did not predict recurrence for patients with a previous history of DFUs.

CONCLUSION

SAF, a simple non-invasive marker of glycemic memory, independently predicts the occurrence of a first foot ulcer in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

More new cancers in type 2 diabetes with diabetic foot disease: A longitudinal observational study

OBJECTIVE

Cancer has been proposed as the primary cause of death in type 2 diabetes (T2D). The life expectancy is reduced after a diabetic foot ulcer. We investigated whether Diabetic Foot Disease related to an increased risk of developing a new cancer.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis on a cohort of patients hospitalized for T2D between 2009 and 2017, stratified for the risk of diabetic foot ulcer (International Working Group on Diabetic Foot classification). We highlighted new cancers in their medical records until December 2020. The relationship between Diabetic Foot Disease and later cancers was analyzed by multivariable Cox regression and survival curves were compared.

RESULTS

Among 519 patients, 27% had a Diabetic Foot Disease, and 159 were classified as grades 1 or 2 (at risk). As compared to the 218 patients graded 0 according to the IWGDF, they were more men, older, with a longer duration of diabetes, more vascular complications, a greater incidence of insulin use, and a higher skin autofluorescence. During the 54 months of follow-up, 63 (12.1%) new cancers were diagnosed. Baseline Diabetic Foot Disease was significantly associated with a higher risk of cancer (multivariable adjusted Hazard ratio: 2.08, 95%CI: 1.02-4.25), whereas the relation was not significant for subjects at risk of DFU (HR: 1.65, 95%CI:0.81-3.35) CONCLUSION: The risk of cancer was increased twofold in T2D with Diabetic Foot Disease.

Limb and cardiovascular event risk in type 1 and 2 diabetic patients with peripheral artery disease

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a risk factor for adverse limb events (LE) and cardiovascular events (CVE) that coexists with type 1 (T1) and 2 (T2) diabetes mellitus (DM). Little is known about comparative risk of LE and CVE in T1/T2 DM patients with PAD. Patients and methods: We queried our database of 40,144 patients ≥18 years old who underwent ankle brachial index (ABI) measurement from 01/1996-02/2020. We isolated T1/T2 DM patients with PAD diagnosed by ankle brachial index (ABI; low [<1.0] or elevated [>1.4]) and retrieved demographics including glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Primary outcomes were LE (critical limb ischemia/vascular amputation) and CVE (myocardial infarction/ischemic stroke). All-cause mortality was a secondary outcome. Multivariable Cox proportional regression yielded hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) after adjusting for pertinent risk factors including age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and HbA1c. Results: Our study found 10,156 patients with PAD and DM (34% T1DM, 66% T2DM) with median follow-up time 34 mo (IQR 85 mo). T1DM patients were younger than T2DM (mean age 67 vs. 70 years), with higher median HbA1c (7.7 [IQR 1.9] vs. 6.7% [IQR 1.6]), and more prevalent hypertension, hyperlipidemia, CAD, and CKD. Antiplatelet and statin use was equivocal. Elevated ABI was more common in T1DM (47 vs. 28%). LE occurred in 23% and CVE in 12% patients. LE risk was higher in T1 than T2 DM patients (HR 1.58 [95% CI 1.44, 1.73], p<0.0001), but CVE and all-cause mortality were equivocal. These observations were preserved across ABI and HbA1c subgroup analyses. Conclusions: PAD patients with T1DM had a higher LE risk than those with T2DM, even after adjustment for glycemic control and pertinent risk factors, but CVE risk and all-cause mortality were equivocal. These data suggest a potential role for more intensive LE risk modification in PAD patients with T1DM, but further investigation is needed.

Update on Medical Management of Diabetes: Focus on Relevance for Orthopedic Surgeons

Diabetes mellitus affects more than 30 million US adults and 537 million people worldwide and accounts for major complications, including more than 100,000 lower extremity amputations annually in the United States. Peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and foot ulcers are frequent findings in diabetes patients at risk for amputation. Suboptimal care of early foot lesions increases the risk of amputation. Studies have shown that these complications can be prevented in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes by optimizing glycemic control and comorbid risk factors. This review focuses on evaluating and managing diabetes, which should interest orthopedic surgeons.

Advanced Hybrid Closed Loop in Adult Population With Type 1 Diabetes: A Substudy From the ADAPT Randomized Controlled Trial in Users of Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring

BACKGROUND

This analysis reports the findings from a predefined exploratory cohort (cohort B) from the ADAPT (ADvanced Hybrid Closed Loop Study in Adult Population with Type 1 Diabetes) study. Adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with suboptimal glucose control were randomly allocated to an advanced hybrid closed-loop (AHCL) system or multiple daily injections of insulin (MDI) plus real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM).

METHODS

In this prospective, multicenter, exploratory, open-label, randomized controlled trial, 13 participants using MDI + RT-CGM and with HbA1c ≥8.0% were randomized to switch to AHCL (n = 8) or continue with MDI + RT-CGM (n = 5) for six months. Prespecified endpoints included the between-group difference in mean change from baseline in HbA1c, CGM-derived measures of glycemic control, and safety.

RESULTS

The mean HbA1c level decreased by 1.70 percentage points in the AHCL group versus a 0.60 percentage point decrease in the MDI + RT-CGM group, with a model-based treatment effect of -1.08 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI] = -2.17 to 0.00 percentage points; P = .0508) in favor of AHCL. The percentage of time spent with sensor glucose levels between 70 and 180 mg/dL in the study phase was 73.6% in the AHCL group and 46.4% in the MDI + RT-CGM group; model-based between-group difference of 28.8 percentage points (95% CI = 12.3 to 45.3 percentage points; P = .0035). No diabetic ketoacidosis or severe hypoglycemia occurred in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

In people with T1D with HbA1c ≥8.0%, the use of AHCL resulted in improved glycemic control relative to MDI + RT-CGM. The scale of improvement suggests that AHCL should be considered as an option for people not achieving good glycemic control on MDI + RT-CGM.

Etiology, Epidemiology, and Disparities in the Burden of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a major source of preventable morbidity in adults with diabetes. Consequences of foot ulcers include decline in functional status, infection, hospitalization, lower-extremity amputation, and death. The lifetime risk of foot ulcer is 19% to 34%, and this number is rising with increased longevity and medical complexity of people with diabetes. Morbidity following incident ulceration is high, with recurrence rates of 65% at 3-5 years, lifetime lower-extremity amputation incidence of 20%, and 5-year mortality of 50-70%. New data suggest overall amputation incidence has increased by as much as 50% in some regions over the past several years after a long period of decline, especially in young and racial and ethnic minority populations. DFU are a common and highly morbid complication of diabetes. The pathway to ulceration, involving loss of sensation, ischemia, and minor trauma, is well established. Amputation and mortality after DFU represent late-stage complications and are strongly linked to poor diabetes management. Current efforts to improve care of patients with DFU have not resulted in consistently lower amputation rates, with evidence of widening disparities and implications for equity in diabetes care. Prevention and early detection of DFU through guideline-directed multidisciplinary care is critical to decrease the morbidity and disparities associated with DFU. This review describes the epidemiology, presentation, and sequelae of DFU, summarizes current evidence-based recommendations for screening and prevention, and highlights disparities in care and outcomes.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring to Optimize Management of Diabetes in Patients with Advanced CKD

Treatment of patients with diabetes and CKD includes optimizing glycemic control using lifestyle modifications and drugs that safely control glycemia and improve clinical kidney and cardiovascular disease outcomes. However, patients with advanced CKD, defined as eGFR <30 ml/min per 1.73 m2 or kidney disease treated with dialysis, have limitations to the use of some preferred glucose-lowering medications, are often treated with insulin, and experience high rates of severe hypoglycemia. Moreover, hemoglobin A1c accuracy decreases as GFR deteriorates. Hence, there is a need for better glycemic monitoring tools. Continuous glucose monitoring allows for 24-hour glycemic monitoring to understand patterns and the effects of lifestyle and medications. Real-time continuous glucose monitoring can be used to guide the administration of insulin and noninsulin therapies. Continuous glucose monitoring can overcome the limitations of self-monitored capillary glucose testing and hemoglobin A1c and has been shown to prevent hypoglycemic excursions in some populations. More data are needed to understand whether similar benefits can be obtained for patients with diabetes and advanced CKD. This review provides an updated approach to management of glycemia in advanced CKD, focusing on the role of continuous glucose monitoring in this high-risk population.

Recent advances of the nanocomposite hydrogel as a local drug delivery for diabetic ulcers

Diabetic ulcer is a serious complication of diabetes. Compared with that of healthy people, the skin of patients with a diabetic ulcer is more easily damaged and difficult to heal. Without early intervention, the disease will become increasingly serious, often leading to amputation or even death. Most current treatment methods cannot achieve a good wound healing effect. Numerous studies have shown that a nanocomposite hydrogel serves as an ideal drug delivery method to promote the healing of a diabetic ulcer because of its better drug loading capacity and stability. Nanocomposite hydrogels can be loaded with one or more drugs for application to chronic ulcer wounds to promote rapid wound healing. Therefore, this paper reviews the latest progress of delivery systems based on nanocomposite hydrogels in promoting diabetic ulcer healing. Through a review of the recent literature, we put forward the shortcomings and improvement strategies of nanocomposite hydrogels in the treatment of diabetic ulcers.

Temporal trends in patients with peripheral artery disease influenced by diabetes mellitus in Germany

INTRODUCTION

In patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Because huge efforts are made to improve medical care of patients with DM including chronic disease programs, the aim of the present study was to investigate temporal trends regarding the clinical burden of DM on PAD patients within a 15-year observational period.

METHODS

We analyzed all patients hospitalized because of PAD between 2005 and 2019 in Germany stratified regarding DM.

RESULTS

Overall, 2 654 871 hospitalizations of PAD patients (865 823 with DM) were included. Hospitalizations based on PAD inclined from 142 778 in 2005 to 190 135 in 2019 (β 3956 per year; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3034-4878, p < .001) with simultaneous increase of hospitalizations of PAD patients with DM (2005: 41609 (29.1%) versus 2019: 65 302 (34.3%); β 2019 per year [95% CI 1593-2446], p < .001). Amputation rates (β -0.42 [95% CI -0.44 to -0.40]; p < .001) as well as in-hospital case-fatality rate (2005: 4.7%, 2019: 2.8%; β -0.64 [95% CI -0.69 to -0.59]; p < .001) decreased in diabetic PAD patients during the observational time. In spite of improved morbidity and mortality in the last years of the observational period, patients with DM still suffered from an increased risk for morbidity and mortality during the observational period compared to nondiabetic PAD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the progress in DM treatments, DM still was associated with an unfavorable clinical patient profile and remained a substantial risk factor for morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients with PAD and DM in Germany between 2005 and 2019.

The Interdisciplinary Approach: Preventive and Therapeutic Strategies for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

The appropriate treatment of the common diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in diabetic patients demands enormous human, organizational and financial resources that are finite. Interdisciplinary teams of medical and surgical specialists, as well as allied health professionals, can help to reduce the consumption of these resources, optimize treatment, and prevent DFUs. They consist primarily of vascular surgeons, endocrinologists, and orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons and are closely supported when required by infectious diseases specialists, plastic surgeons, wound care specialist nurses, podiatrists, and orthotists. A timely interdisciplinary team review in each clinic session decreases the number of hospital visits for the oftentimes-handicapped diabetic patients significantly. The interdisciplinary team clinic setup has also been shown to reduce the risk of amputations, length of hospital staz and mortality rates.