New Clinical Research Program Takes Steps to Predict and Prevent Diabetic Foot Ulcers

A federal grant has helped U-M and five other institutions launch a collaborative effort to research the common and costly complication of diabetes.

3:30 PM

Author | Jina Sawani

More than 100 million adults in the United States live with diabetes or prediabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most people know that common complications of the disease include increased thirst, weight loss and fatigue.

LISTEN UP: Add the new Michigan Medicine News Break to your Alexa-enabled device, or subscribe to our daily audio updates on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher.

But fewer may know about another side effect: diabetic foot ulcers, which affect nearly 25 percent of individuals and are one of the disease's most prevalent complications. Patients with ulcers can't put weight on the affected area in order to facilitate healing (and avoid infection).

Still, those ulcers are responsible for about 80,000 nontraumatic amputations nationwide each year surgery that comes with a five-year mortality rate of up to 40 percent. 

And after decades of decline, those amputations appear to be on the rise, says Rodica Pop-Busui, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of internal medicine and associate chair of clinical research at the University of Michigan.

"This is extremely revealing because it shows that numbers are growing despite significant advances in both targeted wound care and the overall improvement of medical care for patients with diabetes," she says.

Treatment and surgery for diabetic foot ulcers cost Americans up to $13 billion annually, demonstrating this complication's significant economic impact.

That's what led Pop-Busui and her U-M colleagues to conceive and open a diabetic foot research clinic. The unit, known as the Diabetes Foot Consortium, will examine all facets of diabetic foot ulcerations research, treatment and prevention when it opens at the end of October.

[C]linicians will be able to examine the spatial features of diabetic wounds and their surrounding areas, and in turn, better predict wound healing.
Rodica Pop-Busui, M.D.

A step in the right direction

In a collaborative effort, U-M researchers obtained a grant from the National Institutes of Health to launch the research unit. The university was one of only six academic institutions selected for funding for this project.

MORE FROM THE LAB: Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

"Receiving funding from the NIH for this project was very exciting," Pop-Busui says. "It opened the doors for us to continue our research within a dedicated network of experts and truly make strides in the advancement of care for diabetic foot ulcers."

The consortium will be composed of a highly skilled clinical research team and other contributing staff members across all six institutions. The U-M team is led by James Wrobel, D.P.M., Brian Schmidt, D.P.M., Crystal Holmes, D.P.M., and Pop-Busui.

Researchers will work to identify, analyze and validate the best biomarkers and predictors of outcomes for diabetic foot ulcers. By evaluating the visible and invisible aspects of the condition, clinic staff ultimately hope to develop the premise for innovative therapies to better treat these ulcers and prevent limb loss.

"Through several forms of macroscopic evaluation, clinicians will be able to examine the spatial features of diabetic wounds and their surrounding areas, and in turn, better predict wound healing," Pop-Busui says. "This is very exciting."  


More Articles About: Body Work Diabetes Diabetes Management Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes
Health Lab word mark overlaying blue cells
Health Lab

Explore a variety of healthcare news & stories by visiting the Health Lab home page for more articles.

Media Contact Public Relations

Department of Communication at Michigan Medicine

[email protected]

734-764-2220

Stay Informed

Want top health & research news weekly? Sign up for Health Lab’s newsletters today!

Subscribe
Featured News & Stories Graphic with diabetes management supplies, a clipboard that reads health insurance, a calculator and money
Health Lab
High out-of-pocket costs hindering treatment of diabetes
According to a Michigan Medicine study, people with diabetes, particularly those with type 1 diabetes, endure substantial out-of-pocket expenses compared to people without diabetes.
A dentist operates on a patient at Exalta Health in Grand Rapids
Health Lab
Using telehealth to serve disparate populations
A collaboration between Exalta Health and University of Michigan Health-West is a creative method of bridging language, financial, and technology gaps between patients and health care providers.
Image of woman with scientific objects, focusing on insulin resistance
Health Lab
Large genetic study reveals causes for insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome
Study uncovers genetic components of insulin resistance.
Scott Soleimanpour, M.D., sits in front of a computer screen picturing beta cells
Health Lab
Unraveling the secrets behind beta cells
One diabetes program is moving to revolutionize investigations and treatment in the field
Health Lab Podcast in brackets with a background with a dark blue translucent layers over cells
Health Lab Podcast
Study finds bipolar disorder surpasses smoking in mortality risk
A large study shows having bipolar disorder is associated with a four- to six-fold risk of dying prematurely, suggesting more preventive efforts needed. Visit Health Lab to read the full story.
brain blue yellow sketch
Health Lab
Bariatric surgery may slow cognitive decline for people with obesity
Investigators found that people with obesity who underwent bariatric surgery had stable cognition two years later. Researchers say it suggests that bariatric surgery may mitigate the natural history of cognitive decline expected in people with obesity.