LECZENIE RAN 2023; 20 (3)
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) remain a major complication of diabetes, affecting approximately 18.6 million people worldwide each year. As outlined in the comprehensive JAMA review by Tze Woei Tan, Andrew Boulton, Sicco Bus and myself, DFUs lead to high rates of hospitalization, amputation, and death. Several recent advances provide hope for improved prevention and treatment of these debilitating wounds. Epidemiological studies have further delineated the disproportionate burden of DFUs and amputations among minorities and those of lower socioeconomic status. For example, long-term rates of major amputation were nearly 3-fold higher in Black vs. White Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. Efforts to address such disparities must remain a priority globally.