At Wounds Canada, our mission is to improve the lives of people at risk for or living with wounds and their caregivers by advancing the prevention and care of wounds through education, advocacy and research. We envision a Canada where wounds are managed with optimal care, resulting in the best possible outcomes for patients.

Diabetes is a significant public health issue in Canada, with an estimated 3.5 million Canadians living with the disease. Diabetic foot ulcers and arterial ulcers are common complications of diabetes and can lead to limb loss (amputation) if left untreated. The consequences of amputation are devastating, with decreased quality of life, increased health-care costs and higher mortality rates. However, with early intervention and evidence-based treatments, many amputations can be prevented.

Wounds Canada would like to draw your attention to the urgent need for policies that promote limb preservation, particularly for individuals with diabetic foot ulcers and arterial ulcers. As a national organization dedicated to advancing wound care through education, advocacy and research, we believe that preventing unnecessary amputations is a crucial step in improving patient outcomes and reducing health-care costs. We urge you to take action to advance limb preservation policies associated with diabetic foot ulcers and arterial ulcers, including:

1.     Preventative foot care: We urge policy makers to invest in preventative foot care programs that focus on patient education, regular foot exams and the management of foot deformities that can lead to ulceration. This can be achieved through increased funding for community-based foot clinics, education programs for patients and health-care providers and incentives for primary care providers to perform regular foot exams. 

2.     Universal funding of offloading: Offloading, or the use of devices that redistribute pressure away from an affected area, is a crucial component of treating diabetic foot ulcers and arterial ulcers. However, the cost of these devices can be a barrier to access for many patients. Wounds Canada recommends that policy makers implement universal funding for offloading devices to ensure all patients have access to this essential treatment.

3.     Access to early intervention: We urge policy makers to invest in early intervention programs that focus on identifying and treating diabetic foot ulcers and arterial ulcers before they progress to the point of requiring amputation. This can be achieved through increased funding for community-based wound care clinics, telemedicine consultations and education programs for health-care providers.

By investing in these policies, you can help reduce the number of amputations in Canada. We also encourage you to show your support for these policies on social media by tagging Wounds Canada and invite you to explore our resources, including patient stories, to better understand the impact of wounds on Canadians.

We would like to draw your attention to the following article: A Foot Health Pathway for People Living with Diabetes: Integrating a Population Health Approach. This article outlines a pathway that can be used to guide the prevention and management of diabetic foot ulcers in Canada. It emphasizes the importance of a population health approach to addressing this issue.

We also recommend the article Pathways and Outcomes: The Importance of Timely Interventions. This article highlights the importance of timely interventions for the prevention and treatment of wounds. It emphasizes the need for an integrated approach to wound care that includes early intervention and prevention. 

We believe that by working together, we can make a real difference in the lives of Canadians living with wounds. Thank you for your consideration and support.

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Our email address is:
info@woundscanada.ca