Fighting Diabetic Amputation -- Research Summary

BACKGROUND: Diabetes affects 25.8 million people of all ages. Diabetes complications include nerve damage and poor blood circulation. These problems make the feet vulnerable to skin sores (ulcers) that can worsen quickly and are difficult to treat. Proper diabetes management and careful foot care can help prevent foot ulcers. When foot ulcers do develop, it's important to get prompt care. A non-healing ulcer that causes severe damage to tissues and bone may require surgical removal (amputation) of a toe, foot or part of a leg. ( Source: Mayo Clinic)

CONTROLLING DIABETES: Nerve damage or neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes, especially among people who have had the disease for many years. Poor control of diabetes, such as prolonged high blood sugar, low insulin levels, and high blood pressure, are believed to be major contributors to diabetes-related nerve damage.
Recommendations for diabetic people from the CDC’s National Diabetes Education Program include:
• Wash your feet every day, keep feet soft with lotion or petroleum jelly, smooth corns and calluses gently, and trim toenails frequently
• Wear shoes and socks at all times to minimize the risk of injury.
• Protect feet from extreme heat and cold
• Remain active and do other things to promote blood flow to feet
• Discuss foot care with your doctor ( Source: CDC)

HELPING SAVE LIMBS: Temple University Health System we will be the first hospital in the region to participate in a trial called REVIVE – which involves injecting enhanced bone marrow into a patient's leg in order to promote the growth of new blood vessels. This approach is called therapeutic angiogenesis, and the hope is that the new blood vessels will improve blood flow in the leg.
“By stimulating the bone marrow, there will be more of these cells that can grow new blood vessels that are available, and in many cases, the body knows exactly what it needs to do when there is a problem,” Dr. Eric Choi, MD, FACS, Chief of Vascular Surgery, told Ivanhoe. MORE
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Fighting Diabetic Amputation -- In Depth Doctor's Interview | Medical News and Health Information