Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Diabetes Leads to AmputationDiabetic Foot WoundsPreventing AmputationTreatment Before AmputationPreparing for SurgeryRecovery After AmputationFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How Diabetes Leads to Amputation

Diabetic Foot Wounds

Preventing Amputation

Treatment Before Amputation

Preparing for Surgery

Recovery After Amputation

Frequently Asked Questions

A foot ulcer (an open wound) or infection that does not get better may indicate the need for a foot amputation. Around 60% oflower extremity amputations, including feet or toes (unrelated to trauma), occur in people withdiabetes.

This article discusses why foot problems may lead to amputations in a person with diabetes, foot symptoms to monitor when you have diabetes, and what happens before and after a foot amputation.

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Healthcare provider visiting an older man with an amputated leg at home.

Reasons Diabetes May Lead to Amputation

Uncontrolled blood sugarcan lead to numerousdiabetes health complications, includingperipheral artery disease(PAD) andperipheral neuropathy(nerve damage).

PAD, common in people with diabetes, causes blood vessels to narrow, restricting blood flow to the feet and legs. Reduced blood flow causes wounds to take a longer time to heal. For example, an injury that starts small may turn into an infection that doesn’t heal, leading to tissue death or a further spread of infection.

Nerve damage can also cause foot or toe amputation if numbness keeps you unaware of foot injuries. If such wounds go undetected and untreated, they can lead to a bad infection.

PAD and neuropathy make it easier to develop ulcers or infections that raise the risk of amputation.

Racial Disparities With AmputationsGeneral diabetes complications and amputation rates in the United States are more common among people of color.Lower socioeconomic status, lack of health insurance, or lack of access to care may all play a role in contributing to higher rates. Increased public awareness, screening, and public health interventions could help address the higher rate of lower-extremity amputations among underserved communities.

Racial Disparities With Amputations

General diabetes complications and amputation rates in the United States are more common among people of color.Lower socioeconomic status, lack of health insurance, or lack of access to care may all play a role in contributing to higher rates. Increased public awareness, screening, and public health interventions could help address the higher rate of lower-extremity amputations among underserved communities.

Type 2 Diabetes Complications Affecting People of Color

Wounds and Other Foot Symptoms in Diabetes

When you have diabetes, it’s important to check your feet daily for any new injuries, as neuropathy may prevent you from feeling a blister, cut, or other wounds.

Foot problemsto watch out for when you have diabetes include:

Some foot issues can be remedied with over-the-counter (OTC) treatments. However, you should see a healthcare provider immediately if you have the following:

Amputations among those with diabetes occur about every three minutes, an almost 75% increase compared to a decade ago.

Can You Prevent Amputation?

Many lower-limb amputations are preventable. Here are a few things you can do tokeep your feet healthyand help lower the risk of amputation when you have diabetes:

Will I Need an Amputation?

If you have diabetes, it’s normal to feel concerned about the potential need for a foot or toe amputation. Although amputations have increased among younger and middle-aged people with diabetes in recent years, the number of people requiring amputations from a foot ulcer is still small overall.

Course of Treatment Before Amputation Happens

A healthcare provider will treat a foot ulcer or infection before deciding whether amputation is necessary. The exact treatment will depend on the problem.

Treatments for adiabetic foot ulcermay include:

A severe foot ulcer that doesn’t respond to treatment may require amputation. Amputation may prevent an infection from spreading elsewhere in the body, which can be life-threatening.

With a foot amputation, your healthcare provider will remove the unhealthy part of your foot and retain healthy skin, blood vessels, and nerve tissue.

Before

Before amputation surgery, consider doing the following:

During

Expect the following on the day of your surgery:

Recovery

There are certain things that your healthcare provider may ask you to do to aid in recovery from surgical amputation and to help you cope.

Physical Therapy

Moving and walking without a toe or foot, or even with a prosthetic (an implant), will take some adjustment. A physical therapist will work with you to help you get used to moving and walking again. Some other things that you will do inphysical therapyinclude:

Diabetes, Amputation, and Foot Health: Risks Explained

Mental Health

It’s normal to have some trouble coping with an amputation. Some common feelings and reactions include:

A mental health professional can help you process your feelings about an amputation. Ask your healthcare provider for a referral, or check with your health insurance provider.

If you need more immediate mental support, reach out to the Crisis Textline (text HOME to 741741) or the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.

Coping

A team of healthcare professionals, including physical andoccupational therapists, will help you cope with life after a foot or toe amputation. Occupational therapy helps you complete activities of daily living, like completing chores at home and bathing.

You might also work with a prosthetist, a specialist who will make a prosthetic limb you are comfortable with.

Life After AmputationIf you’ve had a foot or toe amputation, feeling overwhelmed, angry, or sad is normal. Know that you’re not alone. Talk to your friends or family members about what you’re feeling. Rely on your healthcare team to guide you. It will take time, but you’ll learn to adjust to your new life postamputation.

Life After Amputation

If you’ve had a foot or toe amputation, feeling overwhelmed, angry, or sad is normal. Know that you’re not alone. Talk to your friends or family members about what you’re feeling. Rely on your healthcare team to guide you. It will take time, but you’ll learn to adjust to your new life postamputation.

Summary

Foot problems and amputations among people with diabetes have increased in recent years. Proper foot care, such as inspecting your feet daily, washing and thoroughly drying them, and avoiding walking barefoot, is essential when you have diabetes. You should also have a healthcare provider examine your feet regularly at appointments.

If you already know that you need an amputation, find out from your healthcare provider what to do to prepare for surgery beforehand, on the day of, and for recovery.

A Word From Verywell

Any type of amputation can be difficult to accept and manage, including an amputation that affects your feet or toes. The best strategy is to take good care of your feet to avoid a minor problem from turning into a larger one. If you require a foot or toe amputation, speak to your healthcare provider about adjusting to life post-amputation.

Frequently Asked QuestionsA diabetic foot ulcer happens in about 15% of people with diabetes. Among that group, 14% to 24% will require foot amputation.Learn MoreType 2 DiabetesIt can. One study of foot amputees found a one-year survival rate of 41.7% and a five-year survival rate of 8.3%. It’s not the amputation itself that creates a lower life expectancy. Older age, reduced blood flow to a wound, and the presence of an inflammation marker called C-reactive protein contributed to a lower survival rate in the study.Learn MoreWhat Is Diabetes Mellitus?Some things to avoid for better foot health with diabetes include: walking barefoot, wearing tight socks and shoes, and trying to fix foot problems, like corns or calluses, on your own. Instead, see your healthcare provider for care.Learn MoreDiabetic Feet: Health Issues, Treatment, and Prevention

A diabetic foot ulcer happens in about 15% of people with diabetes. Among that group, 14% to 24% will require foot amputation.Learn MoreType 2 Diabetes

A diabetic foot ulcer happens in about 15% of people with diabetes. Among that group, 14% to 24% will require foot amputation.

Learn MoreType 2 Diabetes

It can. One study of foot amputees found a one-year survival rate of 41.7% and a five-year survival rate of 8.3%. It’s not the amputation itself that creates a lower life expectancy. Older age, reduced blood flow to a wound, and the presence of an inflammation marker called C-reactive protein contributed to a lower survival rate in the study.Learn MoreWhat Is Diabetes Mellitus?

It can. One study of foot amputees found a one-year survival rate of 41.7% and a five-year survival rate of 8.3%. It’s not the amputation itself that creates a lower life expectancy. Older age, reduced blood flow to a wound, and the presence of an inflammation marker called C-reactive protein contributed to a lower survival rate in the study.

Learn MoreWhat Is Diabetes Mellitus?

Some things to avoid for better foot health with diabetes include: walking barefoot, wearing tight socks and shoes, and trying to fix foot problems, like corns or calluses, on your own. Instead, see your healthcare provider for care.Learn MoreDiabetic Feet: Health Issues, Treatment, and Prevention

Some things to avoid for better foot health with diabetes include: walking barefoot, wearing tight socks and shoes, and trying to fix foot problems, like corns or calluses, on your own. Instead, see your healthcare provider for care.

Learn MoreDiabetic Feet: Health Issues, Treatment, and Prevention

12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Diabetes Association.Amputation prevention alliance.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Your feet and diabetes.Spanakis EK, Golden SH.Race/ethnic difference in diabetes and diabetic complications.Curr Diab Rep. 2013;13(6):814-823. doi:10.1007/s11892-013-0421-9National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes and foot problems.American Diabetes Association.Foot complications.MedlinePlus.Diabetic foot.MedlinePlus.Diabetes - foot ulcers.University of Michigan Health.Frequently asked questions: diabetic foot ulcers.MyHealth.Alberta.Ca.Foot amputation: before your surgery.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Rehabilitation after limb amputation.Rosca AC, Baciu CC, Burtaverde V, et al.Psychological consequences in patients with amputation of a limb. an interpretative-phenomenological analysis.Front. Psychol. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.537493Vuorlaasko M, et al.Major amputation profoundly increases mortality in patients with diabetic foot infection.Front Surg. 2021. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2021.655902

12 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Diabetes Association.Amputation prevention alliance.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Your feet and diabetes.Spanakis EK, Golden SH.Race/ethnic difference in diabetes and diabetic complications.Curr Diab Rep. 2013;13(6):814-823. doi:10.1007/s11892-013-0421-9National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes and foot problems.American Diabetes Association.Foot complications.MedlinePlus.Diabetic foot.MedlinePlus.Diabetes - foot ulcers.University of Michigan Health.Frequently asked questions: diabetic foot ulcers.MyHealth.Alberta.Ca.Foot amputation: before your surgery.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Rehabilitation after limb amputation.Rosca AC, Baciu CC, Burtaverde V, et al.Psychological consequences in patients with amputation of a limb. an interpretative-phenomenological analysis.Front. Psychol. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.537493Vuorlaasko M, et al.Major amputation profoundly increases mortality in patients with diabetic foot infection.Front Surg. 2021. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2021.655902

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Diabetes Association.Amputation prevention alliance.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Your feet and diabetes.Spanakis EK, Golden SH.Race/ethnic difference in diabetes and diabetic complications.Curr Diab Rep. 2013;13(6):814-823. doi:10.1007/s11892-013-0421-9National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes and foot problems.American Diabetes Association.Foot complications.MedlinePlus.Diabetic foot.MedlinePlus.Diabetes - foot ulcers.University of Michigan Health.Frequently asked questions: diabetic foot ulcers.MyHealth.Alberta.Ca.Foot amputation: before your surgery.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Rehabilitation after limb amputation.Rosca AC, Baciu CC, Burtaverde V, et al.Psychological consequences in patients with amputation of a limb. an interpretative-phenomenological analysis.Front. Psychol. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.537493Vuorlaasko M, et al.Major amputation profoundly increases mortality in patients with diabetic foot infection.Front Surg. 2021. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2021.655902

American Diabetes Association.Amputation prevention alliance.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Your feet and diabetes.

Spanakis EK, Golden SH.Race/ethnic difference in diabetes and diabetic complications.Curr Diab Rep. 2013;13(6):814-823. doi:10.1007/s11892-013-0421-9

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes and foot problems.

American Diabetes Association.Foot complications.

MedlinePlus.Diabetic foot.

MedlinePlus.Diabetes - foot ulcers.

University of Michigan Health.Frequently asked questions: diabetic foot ulcers.

MyHealth.Alberta.Ca.Foot amputation: before your surgery.

Merck Manual Consumer Version.Rehabilitation after limb amputation.

Rosca AC, Baciu CC, Burtaverde V, et al.Psychological consequences in patients with amputation of a limb. an interpretative-phenomenological analysis.Front. Psychol. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.537493

Vuorlaasko M, et al.Major amputation profoundly increases mortality in patients with diabetic foot infection.Front Surg. 2021. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2021.655902

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