Feet first for diabetes charity

16 September 2013

As part of its Putting Feet First campaign, Diabetes UK is targeting the 50 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) with the highest amputation rates in England to find out what they are doing to prevent amputations.

Foot problems are a common complication of diabetes: there are more than 100 diabetes-related amputations in the UK every week, and people with diabetes are 23 times more likely to have an amputation than the rest of the population. Up to 80 per cent of these amputations are thought to be preventable.

The figures, from the Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Intelligence Diabetes Footcare Activity Profiles, show that people living with diabetes in some areas can be twice as likely to undergo a diabetes-related amputation as the national average: as many as 4.9 amputations each year for every 1,000 people with diabetes, compared to the England average of 2.6 per 1,000.

Diabetes UK has therefore decided to highlight these statistics to local media to pressure commissioners and hospitals to make improvements, and a number of these areas have already committed to significant improvements to reduce amputation rates.

Where commitments have not been made, the organisation will also be campaigning in the local area for them to give people with diabetes the foot care they deserve. To get involved, sign up to Diabetes Voices or email diabetesvoices@diabetes.org.uk.