LA Times Article on Diabetic Foot Amputations

This past Sunday the Los Angeles Times ran a front page story on amputation of feet and legs related to diabetes. In the story, a vascular surgeon stated that those losing legs from amputation are generally poor, obese, and/or elderly. While there may be some truth to this, a diabetic foot amputation can happen to anyone.

We also know that because the prevalence of diabetes among younger people is rising rapidly, there will be more and more young adults losing legs and becoming disabled. It is estimated that in the next 10 years the number of those suffering this preventable complication will double. Giving the current down economy and high rate of unemployment, it is frightening to think of even more people being forced out of work to to such a tragic, yet preventable, medical condition.

If wealthy educated successful executives can wind up with the completely avoidable loss of a leg due to diabetes, then the health care system must be failing. Every diabetic patient should take charge of their futures and learn how to prevent such an amputation related to diabetes.


Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, inventor and award winning diabetic foot specialist. He is the founder of a private consulting firm specializing in the prevention of diabetic foot amputations. If you or someone you care about has diabetes, you can learn more by simply requesting your FREE report “No Leg Left To Stand On: The Secrets Insurance Companies Don’t Want You To Know About Diabetic Foot Amputation” at http://www.ineedmyfeet.com.

How Would Your Life Change if You Lost a Leg to a Diabetes Amputation?

60% of all amputation are the result of foot problems from diabetes. Every single minute, 2 legs are amputated from diabetes. If you have diabetes you are at risk (about 25%) that you will get diabetic neuropathy (numb feet from diabetes), a diabetic foot ulcer (an open sore on the foot that is difficult to heal) or worse, a diabetic amputation. If you have ever talked to a person who has a lost a leg to diabetes, they will tell you it is tough to deal with. If this happened to you, what would your life look like?

Award winning diabetic foot strategist and podiatrist Dr Christopher Segler discusses the difficulty a diabetic amputation can cause, and how it can disrupt your life.




Dr. Christopher Segler is an award winning diabetic foot surgeon, author and inventor. He is the founder of a groundbreaking private consulting firm that specializes in diabetic amputation prevention. If you or someone you care about has diabetes, you can learn more by simply requesting your FREE report “No Leg Left To Stand On: The Secrets Insurance Companies Don’t Want You To Know About Diabetic Foot Amputation” at http://www.ineedmyfeet.com.

Diabetic Foot Infection

Today I saw a patient who had a diabetic foot partial amputation only 3 weeks ago. He called the office and said he had a new spot he was worried about. Just earlier this week I had taken out his stitches from the amputation site. He had already been admitted to the hospital, taken to the operation for emergency surgery and then had an amputation.

Today the new spot was a blister right next to the amputation site. He said that his neuropathy causes his feet to feel cold. So he sleeps with a heating pad on his feet. Unfortunately the heating pad caused a second degree burn which since became infected.

So, today I used a scalpel and tissue nippers to trim off the dead and infected tissue. I took some wound cultures from the pus draining out of the blister. That way we can tell what bugs are living in there and causing the infection. I also started him on antibiotics. But his still has an open sore and the potential for another preventable diabetic foot disaster.

This episode illustrates the way additional amputations can happen in a those with diabetes and numb feet. Statistically a person with a diabetic foot amputation will experience re-amputaion in less than 5 years.

In all likelihood, this incident will be less eventful than the last, but it was also avoidable. As with just about every other diabetic foot problem, an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure.

Some basic rules:

1. Always check your feet for open sores, red areas or new problems. Check twice-a-day.
2. Never sleep with a heating pad, hot water bottle, or other heat source near your feet.
3. Seek treatment immediately as soon as you see a new sore or detect a problem.

If the antibiotics work, he will stay out of the hospital. If the infection gets worse he will be admitted to the hospital with more of the hideously expensive intravenous antibiotics beating up his already weak diabetic kidneys. If it goes badly he will get diabetic foot amputation #2.

Lets hope for the best.



Dr. Christopher Segler believes diabetic amputations are preventable. He teaches strategies that help his clients avoid amputation. He is also and award-winning diabetic foot surgeon, inventor and author. If you have diabetes, you can learn how to avoid amputation by more by requesting your FREE report “No Leg Left To Stand On: The Secrets Insurance Companies Don’t Want You To Know About Diabetic Foot Amputation” at http://www.ineedmyfeet.com.

One Fourth of Diabetic Amputees Wish They Saw a Podiatrist Sooner

A 2008 study conducted by an an independent research firm for the American Podiatric Medical Association found 25 percent of 600 diabetics who were surveyed and had suffered an amputation related to their diabetes said they should have seen a diabetic foot specialist like a podiatrist. Thirty percent of amputees believed that watching closer and heeding known early warning signs, such as “hot spots” and diabetic foot ulcers, might have prompted them to visit their doctor before things worsened.

In total, 75 percent of the survey participants were type-2 diabetic. The remaining 25 percent were considered at high risk for developing the disease, sometime called "per-diabetic" or "bordeline." The study results showed also found that Hispanics were the least likely ethnic group to be tested for diabetes, compared to African-American and Caucasians. Surveye participants said the reason for not getting tested for diabetes was primarily due to normal blood sugar levels or not having noticeable symptoms.

“This survey shows just how immensely important it is for those diagnosed with diabetes, and those at risk, to have their feet examined by a physician during their annual checkup” the APMA president said. “Regardless of one’s ethnic background, taking a proactive approach to your health in asking your physician to check your feet can save both your limbs and your life.”


Dr. Christopher Segler believes diabetic amputations are preventable. He teaches strategies that help his clients avoid amputation. He is also and award-winning diabetic foot surgeon, inventor and author. If you have diabetes, you can learn how to avoid amputation by more by requesting your FREE reportt “No Leg Left To Stand On: The Secrets Insurance Companies Don’t Want You To Know About Diabetic Foot Amputation” at http://www.ineedmyfeet.com.

American Limb Preservation Society Site is Up!

The new website for the ALPS is now up. It will be full of diabetes facts and information about diabetic foot sores (diabetic foot ulcers), foot infections, and diabetic amputation prevention. Go to www.ineedmyfeet.com to learn more about staying healthy and active, in spite of your diabetes.


Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, inventor and award winning diabetic foot doctor. After discovering how amputations resulted from a failing health care system, it became his passion to teach strategies to stop diabetic amputation. If you have diabetes, you can learn more by requesting your FREE report “No Leg Left To Stand On: The Secrets Insurance Companies Don’t Want You To Know About Diabetic Foot Amputation” at http://www.ineedmyfeet.com.

Statistics on Life Expectancy After Diabetes Leg Amputation from Gangrene

One question I was asked recently is was... What are the statistics on life expectancy after diabetes leg amputation from gangrene?

Well, I wish I had good news. Whenever a loved one gets gangrene, it can be traumatic. Not just for the diabetic who winds up with an amputation, but the spouse as well. The kids, the whole family take a beating emotionally. They see the foot turn black, they smell the foul odor. They watch their loved one go from a lively person to someone who will be luckey to ever walk with a prosthetic leg.

Dancing on your 50th wedding anniversary..nope. Going for 18 holes of golf..nope. Running down the street to teach your grandson to fly a kite...nope. So the patient sees all these things that were taken for granted, drifting away. And the family sees it too. Then they start to wonder about the bigger picture. How long can you live after an amputation?

The statistics regarding diabetic life expectancy after an amputation related to diabetes complications (such as gangrene, diabetic foot infections, and bone infections (osteomyelitis)) are quite bad. Every 30 seconds a limb somewhere is amputated as a consequence of diabetes.

In fact, we know that diabetes makes you 46 times more likely you will have an amputation. Within one year after a diabetic foot amputation, 26.7% will have another amputation. Three years after the first diabetic amputation, 48.3% will have another amputation. Within 5 years of a diabetes related amputation, 60.7% will have another amputation.

If that isn't bad enough, diabetics with amputations don’t live very long. We know that about 50% of all diabetics with an amputation are dead 3 years after the amputation.

65% of all of those with a diabetic amputation are dead 5 years.

In spite of this, there is hope... most are preventable. Watch your blood sugar. Check your feet every day and see a podiatrist, podiatric surgeon, or foot surgeon specializing in diabetic limb salvage if you start to get any open sore or wounds on your feet. Do not wait until it is infected.

With these simple interventions you can keep your feet. And maybe you will dancing on your 50th after all.


Dr. Christopher Segler is an award winning diabetic foot surgeon, author and inventor. He is the founder of a groundbreaking private consulting firm that specializes in diabetic amputation prevention. If you or someone you care about has diabetes, you can learn more by simply requesting your FREE report “No Leg Left To Stand On: The Secrets Insurance Companies Don’t Want You To Know About Diabetic Foot Amputation” at http://www.ineedmyfeet.com.