Preventing Amputation: A Doctor’s Guide for Diabetes Patients

For many people living with diabetes, amputation is one of the most feared complications of the disease. However, a leading diabetes specialist says many amputations can be prevented through early detection, consistent medical care and better patient education.

Dr. Estelle Everett, a Physician and Researcher specializing in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), says amputation is typically the final stage of Diabetic Foot Disease — not an inevitable result of a diabetes diagnosis.

“Amputation is usually the final stage of Diabetic Foot Disease,” Everett explained.

Before patients reach that critical point, the body often provides warning signs. Numbness, tingling, burning or loss of sensation in the feet may indicate nerve damage. Poor circulation can also cause calf pain while walking, foot pain at rest, cold feet, skin discoloration and wounds that are slow to heal.

Foot ulcers, thick calluses and untreated cuts can become infected and potentially lead to serious complications when ignored.

Early Detection Can Save Lives and Limbs

Everett warns that many people are living with diabetes without knowing it. Some do not seek medical attention until complications have already developed after years of uncontrolled blood sugar.

Routine health screenings and regular checkups are critical. Once diagnosed, managing diabetes early can significantly reduce the risk of severe health complications.

For Everett, the mission is personal. Her younger sister lives with Type 1 diabetes, and watching her navigate the healthcare system exposed Everett to racial disparities in diabetes treatment.

Her sister was not initially offered advanced diabetes technologies, including insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors. Everett later discovered research showing minority and lower-income patients are less likely to receive access to these tools.

Those experiences helped inspire her research into healthcare equity and diabetes technology.

Technology Transforming Diabetes Care

Continuous glucose monitors, commonly known as CGMs, have become one of the most important advances in diabetes treatment.

The small wearable devices monitor blood sugar levels in real time. Patients can immediately see how food, exercise and daily habits affect their glucose levels.

For physicians, the technology provides a clearer picture of a patient’s blood sugar patterns throughout the day. For patients, the information can help them make healthier choices and better manage their condition.

Daily Prevention Matters

Everett says controlling diabetes remains the most important step in preventing complications. Patients should take prescribed medications, make appropriate dietary changes and work with healthcare professionals to manage blood sugar.

Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol is also important because both can contribute to circulation problems.

Daily foot inspections are especially critical for people who have lost sensation. A patient may suffer a cut or injury without feeling pain, allowing a wound to worsen before it is discovered. Good foot hygiene and early treatment of wounds can make the difference between recovery and a life-changing medical emergency.

Everett also challenges the misconception that diabetes medications cause kidney failure or amputations. Poorly controlled diabetes, she says, is responsible for many of these complications.

While diet and exercise are important, some patients also require medication to properly control the disease.

The message is clear: diabetes does not automatically mean amputation. Through early detection, access to quality healthcare, modern technology and consistent disease management, patients can reduce their risks and protect both their health and quality of life.

Based on reporting by San Diego Voice & Viewpoint and Black Press USA Wire.