American Diabetes Association Release: World Diabetes Day Focuses On Preventing Lower Limb Amputations
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Diabetes Association (ADA) applauds the efforts of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) as they draw attention to the importance of foot care for people with diabetes through this year's World Diabetes Day theme, "Put Feet First, Prevent Amputations."
Reaching millions of people in more than 145 countries worldwide, the World Diabetes Day campaign aims each year to raise global awareness of diabetes and the serious complications associated with the disease. Focusing this year on the importance of foot care to prevent amputations for people with diabetes, the IDF estimates that somewhere in the world, a leg is lost to diabetes every 30 seconds.
More than 20 million Americans are affected by diabetes. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of diabetes- related nerve damage, which, in severe forms, can lead to lower limb amputations. This nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy, can cause sensations of pain and/or numbness, tingling, or "pins and needles" in the feet and hands. When numbness in the feet is experienced, it can prevent a person with diabetes from noticing an injury, greatly increasing the risk of developing a serious infection that may lead to amputation. The damage diabetes causes to small blood vessels, which are instrumental in carrying healthy blood circulation to the extremities, further increases the risk of amputation.
The risk of a leg amputation is 15-40 times greater for a person with diabetes and at an even greater risk are Hispanic/Latino Americans and African Americans, who are 1.5 to 2.5 times more likely to suffer from foot problems and undergo amputations. In the United States in 2002, about 82,000 non- traumatic lower-limb amputations were performed among people with diabetes.
"It is imperative that awareness be raised about the serious risk of amputation for people with diabetes," said Dr. Robert Rizza, President, American Diabetes Association. "Diabetes is the most frequent cause of non- traumatic lower-limb amputations, and the importance of educating patients about how to recognize the warning signs of neuropathy and prevent its complications cannot be stressed enough."
Earlier this year, the ADA embarked on an awareness campaign to educate people with diabetes about the possible onset of diabetic neuropathy, the serious risks and symptoms associated with it, and to the important fact that there are things people can do to prevent, reduce or manage these symptoms. A patient "pocket checklist" is available to help people better understand the symptoms of neuropathy and encourage further discussion with their healthcare provider.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that all individuals with diabetes get annual foot examinations to identify high-risk foot conditions and establish appropriate guidelines for care.
For more information about diabetic neuropathy or foot care for people with diabetes, visit the Association's Web site at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information, and advocacy. The Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association has offices in every region of the country and provides services to hundreds of communities.
American Diabetes AssociationCONTACT: Rachel Morgan of the American Diabetes Association,+1-703-549-1500, ext. 2290
Web site: http://www.diabetes.org/