Amputee starts campaign as no. of diabetes amputations 'reaches new high'

A Cleethorpes amputee is campaigning to spread message on diabetes by calling on the Government to put an end to avoidable diabetes-related amputations in England.

Using new Public Health England data, the figures were calculated, showing that the annual number of diabetes-related amputations in England is now more than 7,000 compared to the previous figure of 6,677, the Grimsby Telegraph reported.

With good diabetes care and footcare, up to 80 per cent of these amputations can be avoided.

The 39-year-old Stuart Raithby, who has Type 1 diabetes and lost his left leg below the knee, said that beyond living with diabetes, he has had to cope with the impact of his amputation, a devastating complication that is a direct result of not managing my diabetes.

He was diagnosed at the age of 21 and later developed an ulcer on his foot after losing the feeling in his feet. After initially seeking treatment, he stopped getting his ulcer attended to and a few weeks later he fell ill.

Stuart added that he neglected his feet, but he knows that some people are just not getting the care they need, thus, he wants to raise awareness of the issue so that more is done to ensure people with diabetes get their feet checked properly and are made aware of what can happen if they don't.

The figures show that despite a big focus on preventing such drastic treatment, the amputation rate for major and minor amputations combined in people with diabetes has stayed the same.