More than 40% of US population is suffering from diabetes – some may be at initial stages, while many others have reached a complicated state where they have been advised they need an amputation. Diabetes complications might include lack of blood circulation and nerve damage. These problems can cause non-healing ulcers that lead to amputation of toes, a foot, or even your leg.

Diabetes : Symptoms of problems

Diabetic patients are easily prone to ulcers, corns or calluses when your sugar level, cholesterol level and blood pressure are not under control. The first symptom a diabetic patient sees is a wound that will not heal usually on the foot or lower leg. Even a small cut might be catastrophic, as it can lead to swelling, pus and non-stop bleeding. If timely treatment is not received, there is a high risk of losing a limb or a foot.  Amputation risk in diabetic patients is always high and a global challenge, in both developed, as well as, developing countries.

Preventing foot ulcer – diabetes

Foot care and proper diabetes management is very essential to save your foot from amputation. Here are some tips to keep in mind.  Coing so may help avoid foot problems.

• Keep your foot clean. Do not expose to dust or chemicals. People with diabetes should be extra careful from getting wounded or leaving a cut anywhere on the skin open. There are many risks of diabetes affecting these ulcers.
• Wear clean footwear and socks to prevent infection.
• You should trim your nails carefully, avoid nicking and hurting your skin.
• Diabetic patients with calluses should consult the doctors immediately.
• Smoking imbalances circulation, so avoid or quit smoking
• Never neglect foot injuries and contact your doctor immediately.

Sometimes there may not be any option other than going for an amputation. In case you are not able to prevent it from happening, then try using a coordinated access to specialized care. It is not sufficient to talk to a single doctor when you are advised to go for amputation. Always consult for a second opinion. Preventing amputations requires consulting various physicians and getting their opinions on what action you need to take.

Here are some prevention steps that CaliforniaHealthClinic undertakes in order to prevent amputation in case of diabetic patients.

• The clinic performs various procedures to curb it at the initial stage by identifying and managing infection. Using antibiotics and they take careful consideration of bacterial resistance.
• Patients are advised to go for a non invasive microvascular and macrovascular flow to manage ischemia.
• Throughout the wound healing, the clinic suggests offloading pressure of the affected area. Prevention methods like bed rest and using af walker or a wheel chair are always suggested to reduce the pressure on the wound. They understand the importance of keeping weight off the affected area.  If the deformation is too risky to keep, a surgical procedure is performed.
• The granulation tissue treatment method is being promoted widely, which involves the use of negative pressure therapy, transplantation of marrow delivered stem cells, growth factors and many more.

About the author : My name is Debbie White, and my cousin is a diabetic patient whom has had severe problems dealing with her chronic disease. The doctors at her facility had advised that amputation was the only option left. However, a common friend referred her to a different clinic, and this place really made a big difference.   I hope those in this dire situation get a second opinion, as well.
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