Lives, limbs, millions could be saved under new strategy

An ambitious new strategy has been launched to tackle one of Australia’s most urgent and overlooked health issues, with the potential to prevent thousands of amputations, save lives and slash healthcare costs by nearly $1 billion each year.  

Diabetes-related foot disease (DFD) affects more than 510,000 Australians each year, leading to 47,100 hospitalisations, 6300 amputations and 2500 deaths. This costs the health system $2.7 billion.  

The Australian Strategy for Foot Health and Disease in Diabetes 2030, developed by the Diabetes Feet Australia (a Division of the Australian Diabetes Society) and the La Trobe Rural Health School, sets out a nationwide plan to improve access to care, ensure safe and consistent treatment standards and boost research and development in diabetes-related foot health. 

While Australia has made gains in reducing major amputations, the rates of minor amputations and hospitalisations are rising – particularly in younger males under the age of 40, who are seeing the steepest increases.  

Australia has also slipped in international rankings, now holding the fourth highest diabetes-related hospitalisation rate among developed countries.  

Despite the alarming statistics, Associate Professor Byron Perrin, lead author and Associate Dean of Academic Partnerships in the La Trobe Rural Health School, said half of these outcomes could be prevented through better access to guideline-based care.  

“This strategy is about turning the tide on a health condition that causes more hospitalisations for people with diabetes than heart failure, heart attack or stroke and leads to poorer quality of life than cancers, heart disease and kidney disease,” Dr Perrin said. 

“If fully implemented, the strategy could prevent more than 2,800 amputations, 20,000 hospital admissions and save $940 million annually.”  

The new strategy highlights three major priorities: 

• Better access – including annual culturally responsive foot health screenings for all Australians with diabetes.  

• Safe quality care – ensuring high-risk foot services are available in every region, especially in rural and remote communities.  

• Research investment – calling for an additional $30 million per year and a national research network to guide innovation and best practice.  

Dr Emma Hamilton, Chair of Diabetes Feet Australia, said essential foot care interventions were still not adequately covered by Medicare or other national funding schemes. 

“There’s strong clinical evidence that the provision of medical-grade footwear, orthoses and offloading devices can prevent and heal foot ulcers and reduce amputations in people living with diabetes,” Dr Hamilton said.  

“This strategy outlines a clear, cost-effective roadmap to improve outcomes for all Australians living with diabetes. We’re urging clinicians, researchers and governments to act now.”  

The strategy was developed with input from First Nations communities, clinicians, researchers and people with lived experience. It prioritises culturally responsive, equitable care. 

To read the full strategy, visit diabetesfeetaustralia.org.  

• Case study available on request.