People with diabetes are 15 times more likely to undergo amputations. Diabetes can include nerve damage and poor blood circulation, this makes you feet vulnerable to skin sores (ulcers). Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) develops when nerves are damaged due to high glucose levels. Proper diabetes management can prevent the ulcers. a non healing ulcer that causes severe damage to tissues and bones may need to be surgically removed (amputated). The longest nerves are damaged first (toes, feet, legs, hands and arms.) If you are obese or advanced age, you are at a greater risk of amputation. Even small injuries can develop into ulcers, infections, and causes tissue death (gangrene). Feet are easy to go unnoticed, you can step on something sharp and since your feet are numb you might not notice. It's important to inspect your feet and take care of them if you have diabetes.
Amputation becomes necessary when tissue death and infection becomes so painful, antibiotics and debridement fail. Debridement is when you remove unhealthy tissue, the tissue may be dead, damaged or infected. If a patient's life is on the line, they have an infection and its isn't getting better. The Doctors can go in and clean it out, remove tissue. This can help the patient heal by themselves easier. During amputation, someone may just have part of a toe removed while someone else may have there whole leg removed, it depends on how far the problem has spread. Damaged tissue is removed, preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
After surgery the patient is paired with a rehabilitation team to help cope with the emotional and physical changes that come. It is important to take care of yourself after. If you got a toe removed, get pedicures and be checking your feet regularly. Also try to keep your diet and exercise "diabetic friendly" have a healthy diet to keep your glucose levels under wraps.
This relates to the circulatory system, how blood flow isn't making it to all the limbs. Getting nerve damage leaving you with one option... amputation.
(Diabetes.co.uk, 2018)
(Mayo Clinic, 2018)
(Verywell, 2018)
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