Diabetes: Risk Reduction Across the Continuum of Care

The incidence of diabetes is increasing, and projections for the future are grim. Among the closed claims involving diabetic patients analyzed for this article, most involved patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus, who presented with or developed foot infections that required amputation. Diabetes treatment compliance is complicated and difficult, which means ambulatory and hospital teams must be prepared to provide timely and appropriate treatment of diabetic foot infection to reduce the risk of amputation. Strategies to improve treatment compliance and diabetes care teamwork are provided for consideration and implementation to reduce diabetes-related injuries and the lawsuits they prompt.