Why do amputations happen in people with long-term diabetes?
People who have had diabetes for more than ten or fifteen years are most at risk of amputations as they result more commonly if you have not kept your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol in control over time. Because your feet are farthest away from your brain, diminished blood flow may affect them first, often damaging blood vessels and nerves. In these cases, blood vessels in your legs become narrower, so blood does not flow adequately through the lower legs and feet. Your skin becomes dry and thin, and your muscles, bones and joints weaken. These conditions also damage nerves in the feet which eventually become insensitive. The combination of damaged blood vessels and damaged nerves can produce disastrous results. Let’s say your toenails are thick and when you cut them you accidentally nick the skin on the toe. Or, you have athlete’s foot and there is a small crack between your toes. You may simply have a blister. If you cannot sense your feet, you may not be aware of these
