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Posted on Jul 06, 2008, 8 p.m.
By Jeanelle Topping
A significant number of people are having amputations in Scotland due to the affects of diabetes, the BBC reports.
A significant number of people are having amputations in Scotland due to the affects of diabetes, the BBC reports.
According to national charity Diabetes UK, every week ten people has a limb amputated as a result of the disease with 5,000 people across the UK having amputations.
Director Audrey Birt told the BBC: "The situation is shocking given that most amputations can be prevented with better awareness and management of the condition."
More needs to be done to educate and treat the 200,000 people diagnosed with diabetes in Scotland so that the situation does not worsen, claims Ms Birt.
"People with diabetes need to have optimum support, guidance and clinical care to help minimise the risks of amputation. We want to see all people with diabetes have better access to podiatrists and to a regular foot check as part of their annual medical review," she added.
Up to 70 per cent of people die within five years of having an amputation due to diabetes, according to Diabetes UK.
