In Toronto, more than 10,000 diabetic patients suffer a complication of diabetes, one such complication is chronic, non-healing diabetic wounds, usually on the foot or leg. Each year, approximately 2,800 of these patients will undergo amputation and become permanently disabled. Of those patients, 16% will die during surgery, 50% will require a second amputation within 2 years, and 50% of those patients will die within one year.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is recognized in the CANADIAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada, for individuals with deep, long-standing non-healing foot infections.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy aims to prevent unnecessary amputations and reduce patient suffering. Thousands of limbs are being amputated in Ontario, whereas in other parts of the world they are being saved through the use of hyperbaric medicine.

The cost of an amputation on average is $74,000. Pre-amputation pharmaceutical cost can be as much as $49, 000, not to mention the other costs such as rehabilitation, nursing costs, home renovations, occupational, family and social cost.

Eight hospitals in Canada are equipped to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy to a limited number of patients. Currently in Ontario, less than 0.1% of diabetic patients receive specialized medical care that could prevent amputations when standard treatment fails them. Of the 10,000 Torontonians with diabetic wounds, less than 20 are accessing hyperbaric treatment. Our clinic enables us to provide greater access to diabetic patients with chronic wounds that are unresponsive to standard wound care and at risk of amputation.