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The number of people with diabetes needing amputations is rising, and it's affecting Black and Latino individuals more. This means more people are having their limbs removed due to diabetes complications. According to the American Diabetes Association, every 3 minutes and 30 seconds a limb is amputated due to diabetes in the United States. Each year sees 154,000 amputations, making up around 80% of the total non-traumatic lower limb amputations. They are also far more common among people of color.
Amputation as Treatment
People with diabetes may need amputations due to complications such as peripheral artery disease (PAD), which results in reduced blood flow to the extremities. In diabetes, high blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels over time, leading to circulation problems. When blood flow is significantly impaired, wounds, cuts, or ulcers on the legs or feet may struggle to heal. This lack of healing can result in open wounds that may become infected or lead to more severe complications. In some cases, these complications can become so severe that amputation becomes necessary. This is to prevent the spread of infection or save the person's life. It highlights the importance of early detection, regular monitoring, and proper management of diabetes to prevent or address these potential complications and avoid the need for amputations.
Raising Awareness
However, many of these amputations can be prevented if people know about available treatments early on. Unfortunately, not everyone, especially in minority communities, is aware of these options. Factors like delaying medical attention, having high hemoglobin A1C levels (a test for diabetes), and a tendency to see all memories related to diabetes as negative contribute to the seriousness of these cases.
There's a growing call for increased awareness, early intervention, and fair access to information and treatments. This can help tackle the concerning trend of diabetes-related amputations, especially among minority groups.
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