Diabetes by the Numbers: Missouri

Diabetes is currently one of the 10 leading causes of death in Missouri. In 2015, 689,000 people in Missouri were estimated to have diabetes, and the disease was estimated to affect the health of 13.4 percent of the adult population. Not only does diabetes cause detriment to the well-being of Missouri’s citizens, but it also puts a tremendous financial burden on the state.

In 2014, 108,000 non-traumatic lower limb amputations were performed in the US due to diabetes. The average cost of each amputation is $70,434. Research shows yearly visits to a podiatrist by those with diabetes can decrease the risk of lower limb amputation by up to 80 percent. Missouri projects a total of 923,000 people living with diabetes at a cost of $9billion 2025. For more information, visit www.apma.org/diabetes.

Investing in Care by Podiatrists

• While diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputation, these amputations can be prevented.
• Every $1 invested in care by a podiatrist results in $27 to $51 of savings for the health-care system among patients with commercial insurance. For Medicare-eligible patients, every $1 invested in care by a podiatrist results in $9 to $13 of savings.
• The inclusion of care provided by podiatrists for those with diabetes alone will save the health-care system $3.5 billion per year.
• As a cost-cutting measure, Arizona removed patient access to DPMs in June 2010. However, after data indicated Arizona actually increased Medicaid spending by $48 for every $1 in projected savings, Arizona reinstated DPMs in the Medicaid program in 2016.

1 American Diabetes Association, “The Burden of Diabetes In Missouri,” 2018. Accessed July 2018.

2 National Diabetes Surveillance System, 2015. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

3 National Diabetes Statistics Report: Estimates of Diabetes and Its Burden in the United States, 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed July 2018.

4 Lee C. Rogers et al., “The Right to Bear Legs—An Amendment to Healthcare: How Preventing Amputations Can Save Billions for the US Health-care System,” Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 98 (March 2008): 166–168.

5 T.B. Gibson et al., “Podiatrist care and outcomes for patients with diabetes and foot ulcer,” International Wound Journal 11 (December 2014): 641–648.

6 Institute for Alternative Futures, “Diabetes 2025—U.S., State, and Metropolitan Trends,” 2011.

7 Ginger Carls et al., “The Economic Value of Specialized Lower-Extremity Medical Care by Podiatric Physicians in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers,” Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 101 (April 2011): 93–115.

8 American Diabetes Association, “Arizona Medicaid Study: Exclusion of Podiatric Physicians and Surgeons Adversely Impacted Diabetic Patient Health, Program Finances,” June 2013.