Working to help reduce number of diabetes-relatedamputations

Scarborough has the highest rate of diabetes-related amputations in the country, it has been revealed.

Around 29 amputations are being carried out in Scarborough and Ryedale each year - with the national figure now at an all-time high of 145 amputations per week.

To help address this issue, a “Putting Feet First” event is being held in Scarborough on Tuesday July 5, from 1.30pm to 4.30pm at The Street, off William Street coach park.

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It is aimed at helping people living with diabetes to gain information on how to take care of their feet and what signs to be aware of in the event of complications.

Sammy Lambert, podiatry team lead, said: “Health promotion and education is essential to empowering patients living with diabetes.

“It is imperative people living with diabetes know when to seek help and importantly who to seek it from.

“The Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Podiatry team, as part of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, is passionate about delivering high quality care and improving people’s awareness of lower limb risks associated with diabetes with rapid referral into podiatry if problems occur.”

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Stephen Ryan, head of the North at Diabetes UK, said: “This event is aimed at people who at present do not have to see a podiatrist, in the hope that we can give people the tools to help take care of their feet.” Diabetes is the single biggest cause of preventable amputations in the UK and yet with good diabetes and footcare, up to 80 per cent of these amputations can be avoided.

In Scarborough and Ryedale, the current number of people diagnosed with diabetes is 6,263, of which 626 are Type 1 and 5,637 are Type 2.

The prevalence of diabetes in the population in this area is 6.37 per cent and the increase in prevalence over the past three years is 11.56 per cent.

The session will include an interactive workshop as well as a talk from a patient on their experiences of narrowly avoiding a major amputation.

If you’d like to attend please contact Paula Maddison-Green at Diabetes UK on (01325) 488606 or email [email protected]