December 03, 2006
Remember that the information presented here is not intended to replace the care of your own doctor. Before making any changes in the management of your own illness, you should consult your physician or other qualified medical professionals.
Question
I question this statement: "Diabetes is the leading cause of amputation of the lower limbs." While diabetes complicates the healing process and adversely effects recovery, is it true that you must have received an injury (e.g.. a bruise, blister or cut) before the complications set in? In other words, can you say that diabetes alone can cause amputations?Answer
You're quite correct. Merely having diabetes doesn't cause amputations. First of all, you have to have diabetes with high blood sugar. This leads to an increased propensity to infection along with poor wound healing. You will also need to have for vascularization and poor nerve sensory function, which is also caused by years of high blood sugar. And then you have to have a triggering event that causes of break in the skin.
