Diabetes in Canada: Who is at higher risk for amputations? [Video]

TORONTO –

More than 7,000 people with diabetes undergo a leg, foot or toe amputation every year — and the majority of those procedures could have been prevented, the Canadian Institute for Health Information said in a report released Thursday. 

The report said people with diabetes living in the lowest-income neighbourhoods are three times more likely to have an amputation than those living in the highest-income communities. Those living in remote communities were also at higher risk of amputations than people living in urban centres. 

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“Our report is looking at leg amputations that occur annually as a complication related to diabetes,” Erin Pichora, CIHI’s program lead for population health, said in an interview.

“We’re looking at these because they’re largely preventable.”

Lack of access to a primary-care provider to help people manage diabetes is one likely factor behind the inequalities, Pichora said. 

Disparities are also …