Monday, October 25, 2010

Why Do Diabetics Lose Their Legs?

You have had problems with your foot for years. Your doctor now tells you that the foot needs to be amputated. How did this happen? Do you have to go through with the surgery? What will happen if you keep your foot?

Diabetes is a devastating disease. It can be managed, and many of the complications of diabetes are preventable. This takes much dedication of the patient and a team of doctors. Discovering you have diabetes and making life changes to prevent life threatening complication of the disease is very difficult. Thus, many people still run into problems associated to diabetes. Foot problems are among one the most common complications. 70% of all limb amputations are due to diabetes!

There are several reasons diabetics have foot problems but let’s talk about the three big causes. When the nerves are exposed to high levels of glucose or high blood sugars, they are slowly damaged. Thus, many diabetics suffer from peripheral neuropathy, a disease in which they slowly lose protective sensation in the feet. This can be very dangerous. I have had patients who had glass, needles, tacks and other objects stuck in their foot and they never remember how it happened. I have also had patients burn themselves in the bath tub. Their feet can no longer perceive temperature and they can easily burn or freeze their feet!

Diabetics also suffer from poor circulation. Blood carries many nutrients and oxygen that is essential to keep tissues healthy. Poor blood supply makes it extremely difficult for damaged tissues to heal. When a patient has a wound or ulcer on the foot, their poor blood supply makes it is so hard for the area to heal. Diabetics also have a compromised immune system. The body is weakened in its defense mechanism to fight off infections. Infections kill good tissues and leaves dead necrotic tissue behind. Infections can spread very fast from soft tissue to bone and joints and even into the blood supply. Infections can be life threatening.

When the threat of infection is too severe and can no longer be managed by antibiotics, the doctor may suggest an amputation. To remove all or as much dead tissue as possible helps prevent the infection spreading to other areas of the body. A doctor may also suggest amputation if the foot has become non-functional.

The thought of losing a part of your body is a very difficult concept to deal with. It is not uncommon for the doctor to suggest therapy to help the patient cope with process of surgery and rehabilitation. It is important to note that amputations are a part of medical plan to keep you as health as possible. It is important to discuss your fears and concerns with your doctor and to seek second opinions if you do not feel comfortable with your doctor’s advice. It is your leg and should be fully aware to the risk and consequences of keeping and amputating portions of your limb.

17 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. At NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center we are setting up a program to study the treatment options to help treat diabetic foot ulcers. Please check out this article on our blog, Screening for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

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  3. Yes...

    The most important precaution is to avoid injury and keep their foot clean. Wash daily basis and keep dry.
    Scavenger Hunt

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  4. Take a look....it helps...
    http://stemcellsreborn.blogspot.sg/2012/12/diabetic-patient-leg-was-saved.html

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  5. This could be the most frustrated and horrible thing in any human life. To be honest I can't even wonder about this..

    Foot Solutions Alexandria

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  6. damm i didnt know all that thanks yeah i'm type one and bad about the diet

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  7. Very informative page. thanks a lot.

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  8. Very informative page. thanks a lot.

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  9. thank you for educating me on the subject. i have type 2 diabetes but i cant stop drinking. help!!!

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  10. Isn't foot pain the worst? It really affects your quality of life on a daily basis. I'm looking for some relief. Maybe these foot doctors will have a treatment for me!
    Celine | http://footandanklemedicalcenter.com foot pain doctor boise idaho

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  11. Nice blog.........As foot ulcers is common of diabetic foot problem and get also infected to gangrene or deep infection, so suggest to Delhi foot & ankle clinic regarding any pain in foot.



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  12. Plz suggest
    A man having sugar got an injury on leg fingle like ulcel(i am not sure what kind exactly it is)
    Now doctors are advicing to cutoff fingre but from the other they experienced after cuttingoff the finger again it come to leg and then it cometo cuttoff leg.
    so what will be the cure for such desease
    Plz suggest if any one know about it.

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    Replies
    1. Type 2 Diabetes is really easy to reverse. Can be done in a few weeks to a few months. Even in people who have had it for a long time. Can use a) a Ketogenic diet, b) a Low-Carb High-Fat diet or c) Intermittent fasting or a combination of a+c or b+c.
      I did it and in three months doctor said this was a huge turn-around (lost 10kg (20lbs) but stay on meds. 3 month later, doc said I could give-up meds as I didn'y have T2 diabetes anymore (will need follow-up blood test next month). I feel great HbA1c is 48, BG is 5.2, ESR is 1. Oh, must give up sugars. Especially the hidden ones (low-fat versions of anything, fruit juice, packaged foods. Eat real food. Research work by Jason Fung, Peter Attia, Robert Lustig, Garry Taubes. I quit sugar and beat T2 diabetes.

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  13. Anyone facing the foot pain problem just because of diabetics, they can easily surf our website. From our website you will get all the information related to how to reduce the foot pain.

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  14. Glycomet 1000mg Tablet SR is an effective first choice medicine used to control high blood glucose levels in patients with type diabetes.this is one of the best option to save the money.dicuss with a doctor before taking the medicine .

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