Experts alert to rising cases of diabetes foot amputations, proffer solutions

MEDICAL doctors and other stakeholders in the management of diabetes have raised alarm over the increasing cases of amputations due to diabetes foot ulcer, a major complication of diabetes mellitus.

To address the situation, the experts called on the Federal Government to accelerate efforts towards the adoption of policy guidelines to assist caregivers and people living with diabetes in preventing the problem.

Rising from a recent Stakeholders meeting on Diabetes Foot care convened by the Diabetes Podiatry Initiative Nigeria Project (DPIN), the participants in a communique signed by the Medical Director of Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre, Lagos, Dr. Afoke Isiavwe, noted that Nigeria is currently recording unacceptable number of lower limb amputations and death resulting from diabetes foot ulcer in all parts of the country.

According to the communiqué, diabetes foot is now the most common cause of amputation of the lower limbs and is responsible for more hospitalization in patients with diabetes and other complications put together.

The participants which included representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health Abuja, Lagos State Ministry of Health, representatives of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN), Endocrine and Metabolism society of Nigeria (EMSON), endocrinologists/diabetes care physicians from the different geopolitical zones, limb revascularization and intervention cardiologists and the media urged doctors to emphasize the importance of foot care to patients right from the time diabetes is first diagnosed, adding that this should be reinforced at regular intervals.

The participants said: “There is a general lack of awareness both among the populace and health care practitioners in Nigeria about foot care for people living with diabetes. The practice of examining the feet of diabetes patients during visits to the clinic is yet to be embraced by a large number of doctors and other care givers in the country while patients lack basic knowledge to prevent foot ulcer. The practice of treating wounds and ulcers at home remains rampant.