Are there any special requirements for footwear?

  • Minimally traumatic, flexible, special orthotic shoes.

Are the diabetic foot ulcers dangerous?

  • Yes they are. 85% of all major limb loss precede curable foot ulcers.

What are the diabetic foot risk factors?

  • Hyperglycaemia.

  • High body-mass index (BMI > 25)

  • Smoking.

  • Low physical activity (< 150 min/week)

  • Fatty food ( >2000kkal daily)

What is Hyperglycaemia?

  • Hyperglycaemia is when the glucose serum levels are above 4,7-5,5 mmol/l prandial

Is the non-healing ulcer an indication for minor amputation?

  • Not necessarily. Most probably the treatment has to be revised. Ulcers are almost curable.

What are the risk factors for major amputation?

  • If the major amputation takes place then in 87% of cases ipsilateral reamputation is inevitable within next three years and contralateral amputation within next five years. After amputation survival rate within next three years is 30%.

What is the mortality rate for the diabetic foot amputation without corresponding treatment before and after amputation?

  • Mortality rate almost 100% within five years for amputees and is higher than that for cancer group. The main reason of the amputation related high mortality are cardio-vascular fatal complications. Prevention and adequate treatment of the latter may lead to significant improvement of survival rates and quality of life.

What usually precedes amputation for diabetic foot?

  • 50% of patients have neuropathic painless foot ulcers for a long time.

Is insensitivity of foot dangerous?

  • Yes, because of possibility of burnt, freeze, fractures and corpus alliance.

Is diabetic microangiopathy fatal?

  • It is considered to be not actual in foot damage.

Is the limb preserving treatment more expensive compared to amputation?

  • The major amputation procedure, prosthetics, rehabilitation are more expensive and provide lower life quality.

What is the modern attitude to diabetic foot amputation?

  • General consensus on diabetic foot suggests to treat all categories of osteomyelitis as curable except cases when the vast loss of tissues is present.

Is diabetes related amputation really preventable?

  • In the advanced medical centers amputation are avoided in 85-95% of cases.