Aboriginal Australians lose limbs due to diabetes

According to international diabetes news, Australian Aborigines in Western Australia face almost 40 times the likelihood of non-indigenous people to undergo a diabetes related amputation . The study, by the WA Health Department, showed that 98 per cent of amputations in the indigenous population were down to diabetes .
Many people with diabetes and even healthcare professionals are unaware that diabetes can lead to chronic feet and leg problems. Services for the indigenous population are thought to be very poor outside of Perth.
Amputation studies indicate that five years after an amputation, 50 per cent of people will either have died or lost the use of their other leg.