University Health Opens Clinic Aimed at Preventing Diabetic Amputations
Summary: University Health has launched a new Limb Salvage Clinic at the Texas Diabetes Institute in San Antonio to combat the rising tide of diabetes-related foot ulcers and amputations in Bexar County, where 15% of residents (up to 239,000 people) live with diabetes—higher than state and national averages. Led by interventional cardiologist Dr. Anand Prasad, the clinic offers comprehensive, one-stop services including podiatric wound monitoring, debridement, minimally invasive vascular procedures like angioplasty with dissolvable stents, and preventive care for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and neuropathy. Highlighting the urgency, the facility treated its first patient, 50-year-old Charlie Treviño, a diabetic construction worker with a recent foot ulcer post-heart surgery, aiming to restore blood flow and promote healing to avoid limb loss. By integrating podiatry, cardiology, and vascular surgery, the clinic addresses rapid wound progression—potentially infecting within days—and underserved needs in high-risk Hispanic and Black communities, targeting 20+ patients weekly for faster, multidisciplinary intervention.
Key Highlights:
- Bexar County diabetes prevalence: 15% (239,000 people), with some zip codes over 20%; lifetime foot ulcer risk for diabetics: 25-33%; U.S. annual diabetic amputations: >100,000.
- Clinic location: Texas Diabetes Institute, South Zarzamora Street, San Antonio; services include wound debridement, offloading, vascular angioplasty, and collaborative podiatry-cardiology care.
- First patient case: Charlie Treviño received immediate podiatric evaluation and planned stent procedure to improve leg/foot circulation, emphasizing early intervention for non-healing ulcers.
- Expert insights: Dr. Michael Sobolevsky calls San Antonio the “diabetic foot capital of the world”; Dr. Ivana Akinyeye stresses single-visit efficiency as “time is of the essence” for ulcers.
- Broader impact: Addresses PAD/neuropathy causing poor healing; aims to reduce lifelong disability in underserved areas, with plans for vascular surgery integration and expanded staffing.
Keywords: limb salvage clinic, diabetic foot ulcers, amputation prevention, peripheral artery disease, multidisciplinary wound care