RIC for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Approximately 2 million Americans develop diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) each year, with a lifetime incidence affecting up to 34% of individuals with diabetes. DFUs are a significant complication of diabetes and a leading cause of lower limb amputations. Around 100,000 Americans annually experience partial lower limb loss due to infected or non-healing ulcers. These ulcers are particularly difficult to treat and often lead to infections, hospitalizations, and long-term health consequences.

 

Diabetic foot ulcers disproportionately impact low-income and minority populations due to a combination of factors such as limited healthcare access, insufficient diabetes management, and economic challenges that hinder timely care. Low-income individuals often struggle to receive preventive and primary care necessary to manage diabetes and prevent DFUs, leading to more severe complications like infections and higher rate of amputations. Additionally, the high cost of medical supplies and lack of affordable insurance delay treatment, while rural and underserved areas face shortages of specialists like podiatrists and vascular surgeons, worsening outcomes for these populations.

 

Repeated application of RIC by LifeCuff offers an alternative treatment that may dramatically improve the outcomes and reduce amputation rates for DFU patients. Several studies of repeated RIC including those by the company showed an increase in healing rate with the advantages of a home-based treatment.

 

RIC is advantageous to over advanced treatments as outlined in the table below.