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"The specialist told me," We are going to have to amputate it this afternoon, because if we do not do it tomorrow, you will be dead ""
Stephen Richardson, a British Briton 58 years old who is learning to walk, one leg. after his other limb has been amputated.
Cause: type 2 diabetes a condition that, left unattended, can lead to serious complications, including lower limb amputations and even death.
Only in the United Kingdom, 170 people undergo amputation of a limb because of diabetes
. According to the International Diabetes Federation, it is estimated that every 30 seconds in the world. a lower limb or a part of it is amputated because of this disease.
In recent years, the prevalence of diabetes has increased dramatically world According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 422 million people are living with the disease.
Every year, 1.6 million of these patients die. And the loss of the lower limbs due to the complications of diabetes has become a serious public health, economic and social problem.
For Stephen Richardson, his amputation in had a huge impact on his life and his family.
"I have two grandchildren two and four years old and Emily, my eldest granddaughter, when she saw me in the hospital without a leg. not too close, it hurt me a lot, "he told the BBC
" Now I usually sit alone in the garden, I sit down for think, I wonder what I'm going to do now, What's left in my life? ", he says.
Glucose
Diabetes is a metabolic and chronic disease characterized by high levels of blood glucose that eventually cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, eyes, and muscles. kidneys and nerves
Most people with this disease, like Stephen, have type 2 diabetes.
This occurs mainly in adults when the body becomes insulin resistant – l & # 39; hormone. which produces the pancreas and helps stabilize blood sugar – or does not produce enough insulin.
According to the WHO, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes over the past three decades has increased dramatically in all countries.
Ora-type diabetes is type 1, formerly known as juvenile diabetes as it mainly affects children and young people.
The pancreas produces virtually nothing. d & # 39; insulin.
Complications
For people with diabetes, access to treatment, including insulin, is essential for both survival and prevention of complications.
Constantly high blood glucose levels can cause serious bodily injury including kidney failure, vision loss, neurological damage, risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks and heart attacks. stroke.
Another devastating complication is the loss of the lower limbs caused by the diabetic foot.
This foot problem is due to neuropathy (nerve damage) and poor blood circulation caused by high blood sugar.
Neuropathy causes loss of sensation in the feet, decreasing the ability to feel pain or injury.
poor blood circulation decreases the body's healing capacity which makes it difficult to cure infections, wounds or wounds.
There is no cure for the disease, but it is possible to control it with a strict diet and drugs,
After amputation, Stephen Richardson told the BBC that he himself admitted to having ignored his doctor's advice about his diet and physical exercises.
"This is the fault of anyone else, ] it's my fault .I do not blame surgeons, nor doctors, I do not blame nobody, only myself. "
" If I had done what they had told me to do, I would not be in this situation now, "he adds. ] The experts claim that simple lifestyle changes can be effective in preventing type 2 diabetes.
They include a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining maintenance. normal weight and avoid snuff
And for those who have already been diagnosed with the disease, in addition to these lifestyle changes, it is necessary to take control of their drugs and to submit to regular tests so that the patient does not suffer any complications. 19659040] You can now receive notifications from the BBC News World Download the new version of our application and activate them so you do not miss our best content.
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