Why Diabetics Sometimes Undergo Amputation

I overhead a poorly informed man cautioning a diabetic patient with foot ulcer not to go to teaching hospital because immediately the doctors there sight his leg,they would cut it off.That's a serious warning;isn't it? Many people see doctors from the wrong perspective because of these ignorance.That's why you must discipline yourself to acquire knowledge.

Here is the reason for amputation:diabetes causes excess sugar in the blood,which is part of it's complications,damages the nerves or blood vessel or both.Due to damage to the blood vessel,a condition known as Atheroclersosis, narrowing of the blood vessel develops.Following the narrowing of the affected blood vessels,particularly those of the feet,the chances of sudden blockage of the vessel by moving blood clots (embolus) increase.

When a particular vessel supplying the foot blocks,blood supply to the affected parts stops.leading to death of that part of the foot;a condition known as Necrosis.Such condition can present in two ways;the affected foot may look black and dry(Dry Gangrene)or reddish and wet.If the latter is infected by germs,it may become very offensive and malodorous(Wet Gangrene).

The irony/agony of the diabetic foot is that,if the severely  affected foot is not cut off,the chance of spread to unaffected parts is very high.It is on this ground that doctors consider surgical removal (amputation) of the affected foot or leg before it spreads to others .This option is however the last option in severe cases.