Metro

Tuesday May 5, 2009

Amputations on the rise

By EDWARD RAJENDRA


RETIRED soldier S. Subramaniam, 58, who has a family history of diabetes, was diagnosed with the disease when he was 50 but he refused to take his medication and ignored all the signs that the disease was progressing like numbness in his feet, tiredness and blisters that would not heal.

He did not realise he was in danger until a blister on his right foot turn into a wound that became infected.

Unfortunately, it was too late, and he finally lost his leg when it had to be amputated below the knee due to gangrene.

“Being a former soldier, I thought I was fine as I had a lean frame. However, it does run in the family and my grandfather and mother both had it as well,” he said.

Former kindergarten teacher V. Selvarany, 43, who has no family record of diabetes, never minded much about the weird sensations in her feet and blisters that would not heal.

Reaching out: Selvarany at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital Rehabilitation Specialist Clinic after fitting her prothesis.

In 1999, when she was 35, she was diagnosed with the disease but was never too strict with her diet.

“In 2001, two of my toes had to be cut off as gangrene had set in. Later, in 2008, while teaching some children to dance, I stepped on a stone resulting in a wound that would not heal and it led to an infection that needed amputation below the knee,” she said.

Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (TARH) director Dr Ghazali Hasni Md Hassan said diabetes was a nasty and silent disease that caused eight people a month to have their lower limbs amputated at the TARH.

For 2008, there were 80 cases of lower limb amputations related to diabetes at TARH, while 2,289 people were diagnosed with the disease. This year, until March, there were 18 amputations.

“Amputations due to diabetes can be prevented with adequate detection and care. Simple behaviour is encouraged such as regular foot examinations, not walking barefoot, wearing comfortable footwear, keeping the feet clean and maintaining good care of the nails,” he said.

“Diabetes is a growing concern. Malaysians with diabetes are increasing while complication rates and associated diseases among diabetics are significantly high. According to the 2006 National Health and Morbidity Survey, there are 12 diabetics in every 100 adults,” he said.

Dr Ghazali added that most diabetics were Indians followed by Malays and Chinese.

“Diabetes strikes people who do not exercise and eat less fresh vegetables and fruits.

“A sedentary lifestyle and sugary food open the doors to diabetes,” he said.

TARH Rehabilitation Specialist Clinic physician Dr Norhayati Hussein said diabetic foot problems could be cared for and up to 80% of all diabetic foot amputations could be prevented.

Dr Norhayati added that her clinic helped amputees get back on their feet with custom-made prosthesis made available with a RM50,000 workshop created under the auspices of the Bandar Sunway Rotary Club.

Amputees from the lower income groups are fully sponsored by the club.

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