About Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease defined by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. It can lead to poor blood circulation, kidney damage, vision problems or other problems.
Diabetes can also lead to amputation. So how does this happen? Diabetes can cause poor blood circulation, leading to damage of nerves and hardening of arteries, especially in the feet. This can result in increased risk of injury and reduce the ability for open sores and wounds to heal. This, in turn, increases the risk of amputation.
Over 60% of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations in America happen to diabetics. In 2000 and 2001, that translated to 82,000 diabetic amputations.
Over 18 million Americans have diabetes, a whopping 6.3% of the population. In addition, experts state that over a third of people with diabetes remain undiagnosed.