Diabetes raises limb amputation rate to over 400% in 8 years

The rate of limb amputations resulting from diabetes has increased by 404 percent over an eight-year period, whereas the amputation rates resulting from traffic accidents dropped by 39.8 percent, according to data released by the Ministry of Health.
Madinah topped the rate of amputation cases as a result of diabetic gangrene among other issues by 25 percent, while Tabuk topped amputations as a result of traffic accidents by 32 percent, the report said..
Compared to all amputation cases, amputations arising from diabetic gangrene registered an increase of 51.4 percent in 1434 AH compared to 11.3 percent in 1427 AH.
Dr. Naji Al-Juhani, member of the Saudi Diabetes Association, said the increasing rate of amputations as a result of gangrene associated with diabetes is due to the stark increase of diabetic patients in the Kingdom.
Al-Juhani attributed the increasing rates of amputation cases in Madinah to lack of awareness programs and the low-quality services offered by health clinics.
Nagwa Mousa, a medical expert, said that high cholesterol, high blood pressure, peripheral neuropathy, and lack of blood supply to the foot are major factors that contribute to amputations arising from the risks associated with diabetes and gangrene.
Mousa said diabetes can be easily controlled when patients do physical exercise regularly, and commit to maintaining a healthy diet.
According to a recent study, Saudi Arabia was ranked among five countries as having the highest obesity rates, with the condition affecting more than 30 percent of the Kingdom's population as a whole.