Diabetic Foot Treatment Abroad — Why Cuba? for Illinois Families

For American patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers, the decision to seek treatment abroad is often driven by a simple fact: Heberprot-P — the only intralesional growth factor therapy specifically approved for diabetic foot ulcers — is not FDA-approved and is not available in the United States. For many patients whose ulcers have not responded to standard U.S. wound care, Cuba offers the only access to this treatment.

Beyond Heberprot-P, American patients choose Cuba for several reasons: the comprehensive, coordinated approach (a single multidisciplinary team delivers all aspects of wound care in one location, rather than fragmented across multiple U.S. specialists), the intensity (2–4 weeks of daily treatment, compared to weekly U.S. wound clinic visits), the cost (significantly less expensive than U.S. hospital-based wound care or hyperbaric oxygen therapy), and the amputation prevention focus (Cuba's program is specifically designed to heal chronic ulcers and prevent amputation, which is the last resort in U.S. care).

The program includes full-service coordination — travel authorization support, English-speaking coordinators, airport reception, accommodation, and telemedicine follow-up after returning to the U.S. The comprehensive medical report is shared with the patient's U.S. podiatrist and endocrinologist for coordinated ongoing care. Treatment suitability is determined after individual medical evaluation — not all ulcers are appropriate for Heberprot-P.