Seven of 10 Filipino diabetes patients likely to lose a leg

Seven out of every 10 diabetic Filipinos will end up with amputated lower limbs, the Philippine Diabetes Association (PDA) said yesterday.

The group also warned that every 30 seconds, a human leg is cut off due to diabetes somewhere in the world.

PDA president Dr. Teresa Plata Que said foot and leg amputation is the leading complication of diabetes, a condition associated with an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle.

She added that this is because humans belong to the "upright Homo sapiens" species that depends heavily on its feet.

A simple injury can lead to an amputated limb when a diabetic reaches the stage where his sense of touch is diminished and the wound gets worse without him noticing it.

"Sometimes, they do not even know that a thumbtack is already (stuck in) their (feet). They don’t feel anything. They don’t know they already have an injury," she said during a press conference prior to the observance of World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14.

This year’s theme is "Put Feet First, Prevent Amputations" to raise awareness of the need to care for one’s feet.

Que said doctors should see to it that when they deal with diabetic patients, they should check the condition of the patients’ lower limbs, particularly the feet, to determine if they are injured, can still sense touch, and have good blood flow to and from the foot area.

The PDA recommends that diabetic people check their feet daily for cuts, blisters, bruises or changes in color, swelling and open sores.

"Always protect your feet. Wear suitable footwear inside and outside your home to avoid injuring your feet. Check your shoes for stones and other objects," the group’s advisory read.

Que said that while pointed shoes are fashionable, they compress the feet and could cause sores.

Records of the National Nutrition and Health Survey show that 3.7 million adult Filipinos, representing 4.6 percent of the population 18 years old and above, are suffering from diabetes. Many of them, however, are unaware of their condition.

But according to Dr. Rosa Allyn Sy, former PDA president, they have been observing an increase in diabetes among children over the past years.

She said this is because of the sedentary lifestyle of children engrossed in computers and video games, and the nationwide proliferation of fast-food outlets that serve high-cholesterol food.