Less amputations for diabetics reported

Wed, 25 Jan 2012
The number of people suffering from diabetes who have had a foot or leg amputations has decreased, according to a new study from the United States.

The project assessed data from the National Health Interview Survey and the National Hospital Discharge Survey, showing that for diabetics over the age of 40, the hospital discharge rates for non-traumatic lower-extremity amputation was shown to have fallen by an average of 8.6 per cent each year from 1996 to 2008.

However, despite this good news, the research, which was published in Diabetes Care, found that diabetes patients are still more likely to face losing a limb than the general population, with diabetic amputation rates being almost eight times higher than for non-diabetics in 2008.

The research reported "Continued efforts are needed to decrease the prevalence of [amputation] risk factors and to improve foot care among certain subgroups within the US diabetic population that are at higher risk."

The improvement in the findings was explained as due to better diabetes prevention and care over the last few years, which has also helped reduce the number of complications linked to the condition.

However, the team also said "Further decreases in [amputation rates] will require continued awareness of diabetes and its complications among patients and providers, as well as comprehensive interventions to reduce the prevalence of risk factors for amputation and to improve foot care and overall care for people with diabetes."
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