Furthermore, diabetes and LED had an additive effect on the risk for mobility limitation; adults with both conditions had an almost 3-fold increase in risk, compared with those having neither (39% vs 14%).

The most frequently reported mobility limitations were related to patients' ability to walk a quarter mile and walk up 10 steps without resting.

Among those with diabetes and LED, 33% of patients reported difficulty with these tasks, and 6% reported difficulty walking from one room to another on the same level. This is the most serious form of limitation and can impair an individual's ability to perform activities of daily living.

The CDC notes that LED and its health consequences (chronic foot/leg ulcers, amputations, and mobility limitations) is gaining importance as a public health concern due to the increasing prevalence of diabetes as the U.S. population ages.

In addition, many diabetics do not receive the recommended proper foot care and other preventive measures intended to reduce their risk for LED. According to an analysis of 2003 data, only 67% of diabetics receive a yearly foot exam, although 88% report having an annual doctor visit.