OBJECTIVES: Peripheral lower-extremity (PLE) diseases (peripheral arterial diseases and neuropathy) are severe complications of diabetes that can impact the length and cost of a diabetes-related hospitalization. Few studies have explored diabetes-related hospitalization discharge status and its association with PLE. This study examines the association between PLE and diabetes-related hospitalization from a national database. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the 2010 – 2012 National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Diabetes-related hospitalization was defined by discharge records with principal or secondary diagnosis of Diabetes (250.XX). Hospitalization discharge status was dichotomized as routine discharge and non-routine discharge in consistency with previous studies. PLE was identified using diagnosis codes and was classified (“severe” v.s. “less severe”) by combination of established severity algorithm, procedure codes and DRG. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square test were used to examine the unadjusted association between PLE and diabetes-related hospitalization discharge status. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to examine the adjusted association between PLE and diabetes-related hospitalization controlling other covariates. RESULTS: