Low income California residents who are affected by diabetes are 10 times more likely to undergo amputations than patients belonging to middle and upper class. This was the result of a study released researchers from the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).
Such result has "serious implications beyond specific health consequences," said Carl Stevens, the lead researcher of the study and a professor of medicine at UCLA's School of Medicine.
The study indicated that amputations are considered by diabetic patients with poor socio-economic status to overcome diabetes complications such as gangrene and other severe consequences.
"The reason here goes beyond the fact that underprivileged Californians have little financial capability and access to health care system," added one member of the study team. "People from low-income background are not conscious on the sugar intake."
The study revealed three critical points. First, amputation rates were 10 times higher in the low-income communities, such as Compton and East Los Angeles, than those in wealthier areas, such as Malibu and Beverly Hills.
Secondly, only about 6% of diabetic cases in California were African American.
Lastly, amputation cases are more common among patients of African American background and non-English speaking patients.
The study also revealed low-income communities put less priority on proper health care management. One researcher noted, "Patients developed diabetes because they hardly consider the effects of what they eat to their blood sugar level. Hence, the tendency for them to be more prone to severe diabetic infection."
"This study showed millions of California patients chose to undergo amputations due to poorly managed diabetes," said Stevens, the study's lead researcher. He also told diabetic patients that where they live directly relates to whether or not they'll lose a limb from diabetic infection.
The study was conducted by team of experts from UCLA to help push of policy change on health programs for people below the poverty line. Stevens added the team "hopes to spur policymakers to enable poor patients to better access to diabetic treatments."
