In This Post:
Presenters:
Dr. Gary Rothenberg
Director of Medical Affairs
Lynette Menke
VP of Business Development
When we talk about diabetes, most conversations focus on blood sugar control, medication, and diet. But there’s a hidden complication costing U.S. employers and health plans billions yearly, and it’s not getting the attention it deserves.
We’re talking about diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), a complication that impacts quality of life and drives some of the highest healthcare costs in diabetes care. For the 38 million Americans living with diabetes, one common and preventable complication, such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), can sideline employees for months, lead to amputations, and cost organizations over $100,000 per case. This is a serious workforce risk, often invisible until it’s too late.
As a broker or healthcare partner, your clients trust you to uncover and mitigate hidden risks. We welcomed Dr. Gary Rothenberg, Director of Medical Affairs at Podimetrics, and Lynette Menke, VP of Business Development at Podimetrics, to our webinar series to share how to prepare organizations to get ahead of diabetic foot complications and the costly consequences they bring. The good news is that most DFUs are preventable with proper early detection and intervention.
About Podimetrics
Podimetrics serves national and regional payors and providers in all lines of business – Medicaid, Medicare, D-SNP, and Commercial. It’s a combination of a program with a clinical staff and technology based on established science for remote temperature monitoring.
The core of Podimetrics’ solution is the SmartMat™, a scientifically validated technology. This easy-to-use, at-home device integrates clinical intelligence and real-time monitoring to detect complications before they start.
The Scope of the Problem
In the United States, over 38 million people live with diabetes. The total annual cost of managing diabetes is estimated at $412 billion, and shockingly, one-third of those costs are related to lower extremity complications.
A diabetic foot ulcer is the number one cause of lower-limb amputations, with the average cost of an amputation reaching $100,000. And the impact doesn’t end with the initial wound or surgery:
- DFUs have a 50% recurrence rate within two years.
- Individuals with DFUs are 30 times more likely to face an amputation.
- People with diabetes face a 34% lifetime risk of developing a DFU.
Even more striking, the mortality and morbidity rates associated with DFUs and amputations exceed those of many cancers. DFU care costs the U.S. nearly as much as all cancer care combined.
Healthcare data shows that a member with a DFU costs more than 10 times the average health plan member and more than three times a member with diabetes but no foot ulcer.
The utilization rates are staggering:
- 14x more hospital visits
- 6x more ER visits
- 53x higher home health spending
- 535x higher amputation rates
Beyond direct costs, DFUs also impact workforce participation. Following a lower limb amputation, return-to-work rates can drop as low as 16%, affecting productivity and disability claims.
Why Early Detection Matters
The reality is that 85% of DFUs are preventable. The challenge is identifying problems early enough to intervene. Most ulcers start as small injuries or pressure spots that go unnoticed due to nerve damage (neuropathy). By the time visible symptoms appear, significant tissue damage may have already occurred.
That’s where temperature-guided avoidance therapy comes in. Research shows that monitoring foot skin temperature can detect inflammation – a key early warning sign – up to five weeks before a wound appears.
A Proven Approach to Prevention
Podimetrics has built its prevention model on decades of clinical research, including:
- Three NIH-funded randomized controlled trials have proven the effectiveness of temperature monitoring.
- Three clinical practice guidelines recommending the approach for high-risk patients.
- An AHRQ comparative effectiveness review confirming its ability to prevent ulcer recurrence.
At the heart of Podimetrics’ solution is the SmartMat™, an easy-to-use, at-home device that detects foot temperature differences. If the system spots early signs of inflammation, the member and their care team are alerted for proactive intervention.
Key features:
- It works without Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so only cell service is required.
- It requires just one daily scan, which takes seconds.
- Integrated clinical support for personalized follow-up.
The outcomes speak for themselves:
- 97% of DFUs were detected about five weeks before wound opening.
- 50–70% reduction in amputations.
- 30–50% reduction in inpatient stays.
- 60%+ reduction in skin substitute use.
- $8,000–$14,000 savings per member per year.
From a member experience perspective, satisfaction is extremely high:
- 92% say the program enhances their health plan experience.
- 93% believe it improves their care.
- 100% of providers surveyed would recommend it to colleagues.
Get in touch with Podimetrics today!
For employers, unmanaged DFUs mean higher claims costs, increased absenteeism, long-term disability, and lower productivity. For health plans, they drive high-cost claimants, preventable hospitalizations, and member dissatisfaction.
Implementing proactive monitoring avoids catastrophic outcomes, reduces the cost of care, and improves quality of life. Early detection and intervention are far more cost-effective than treating advanced wounds or performing amputations.
Podimetrics’ proven approach is backed by clinical evidence and real-world results. It gives employers, providers, and health plans the tools they need to:
- Identify problems before they escalate.
- Reduce hospitalizations and amputations.
- Improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.
- Achieve significant cost savings.
By shifting the focus from reactive treatment to proactive prevention, Podimetrics can address this hidden risk head-on, protecting patients’ health, preserving their independence, and easing the financial burden on the healthcare system.
For more information, contact:
Lynette Menke – lynette.menke@podimetrics.com
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