Diabetes and amputation are connected when diabetes is not controlled well and it leads to circulation and nervous system issues within the body. To better understand how these two things are related, it is important to have a good understanding of the definition of diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that occurs when the body is unable to produce or utilize the insulin hormone properly. The insulin hormone is produced by the pancreas. If the pancreas is unable to produce the insulin that the body needs, type I diabetes mellitus (juvenile onset or insulin dependent diabetes) is diagnosed. If the pancreas produces enough insulin but the fat and muscle cells are unable to use the hormone, type II diabetes mellitus (adult onset or insulin resistant) is diagnosed.
Diabetes Amputation Causes
Regardless of the type of diabetes diagnosed, if the condition is not controlled well and blood sugar levels remain high, serious complications and even death can occur. One such complication is called diabetic neuropathy. This condition affects the nervous system and the circulatory system. It causes poor circulation to the limbs, as well as numbness, tingling, cold hands and feet, discoloration, the inability to use the hands and feet properly, and can eventually lead to tissue death. When tissue death occurs, diabetes leg amputation or diabetes limb amputation may be necessary.
Diabetes Toe Amputation
According to the American Diabetes Association, one of the first areas to be affected by diabetic neuropathy is the foot. Since the toes are the furthest away from the heart, circulation problems and nervous system issues usually affect the toes first. If the tissue of the toes dies, it is possible to remove the toes without having to amputate the foot or limb. However, if the diabetes remains uncontrolled, it will probably lead the diabetes foot amputation.
Diabetes Foot Amputation
When neuropathy sets in and diabetes is not properly controlled, the tissue in the feet begins to die. If the condition is not repaired before tissue death occurs, foot amputation from diabetes may be necessary. According to the Mayo Clinic diabetes information, once the tissue in the foot dies amputation is almost always necessary. Dead tissue can cause the tissue around it to die. Thus, if uncontrolled diabetes is causing tissue death, the dead tissue will need to be removed. Sometimes if the condition is treated early enough, diabetes amputation may be avoidable, or the area of amputation may be smaller.
The best way to treat neuropathy is to avoid the condition by controlling your blood sugar properly. Contact your doctor immediately if you have any neuropathy symptoms or if you are unable to control your blood sugar well. It may be necessary to make changes to your treatment plan to control your blood sugar more effectively.
