Ignoring blackened toes may lead to amputation of foot: Expert

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 2

Diabetic foot care is one of the most ignored aspects of diabetic care in India. Sharing the worrisome facts about diabetic foot care in the Indian scenario, Dr Ravul Jindal, Director Vascular Surgery, warned against the conditions that lead to foot amputation.

Dr Jindal said: “Black toes in diabetics may not only be the onset of gangrene leading to foot amputation but also may be the knock of heart ailments”.

He said: “Ignoring blackened toes may not only lead to amputation of foot or leg, but can also cause onset of heart ailment. Amputation due to diabetic foot can be prevented in 90 per cent of the cases with proper education and timely treatment.”

In India, 41 million people suffer from diabetes, which will rise to 79 million in 2030. Apart from the high incidence of diabetes, age at which it occurs is the Indian population is a cause of great concern. In India about 40,000 limbs are amputated every year because of diabetes related foot complications.

Dr Sven, an angiologist from Germany who specialises in vascular interventions in diabetic foot, commented that early interventions give the best diabetic foot salvage rates. Newer technologies like drug eluting balloon, long balloon with good profile and atherectomy devices gives good results in this group of patients.