Screening for diabetes in lower limb amputees: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Diabetes management
• Vascular health
• Public health screening

Background:

• The Saint Vincent Declaration outlines 5-year targets for improving outcomes in diabetic patients.
• Comprehensive screening and monitoring are essential to track progress toward these targets and identify diabetic complications.
• Lower limb amputations in diabetic patients indicate advanced disease and highlight the need for better early detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes in patients undergoing lower limb amputation.
• To evaluate the feasibility and challenges of implementing a national diabetes screening program within this patient cohort.
• To inform strategies for improving screening uptake and achieving national diabetes care goals.

Main Methods:

• A prospective screening program was conducted over three months.
• 146 patients presenting for lower limb amputation were included in the study.
• Data was collected on diabetes status and screening participation.

Main Results:

• A significant proportion of patients undergoing lower limb amputation were found to have undiagnosed diabetes.
• Only approximately 50% of eligible patients underwent diabetes testing, indicating low screening uptake.
• The study identified substantial difficulties in establishing a widespread national screening program.

Conclusions:

• Undiagnosed diabetes is prevalent in patients with lower limb amputations, underscoring a critical gap in care.
• Low screening participation rates pose a significant barrier to achieving national diabetes management targets.
• Ongoing efforts are focused on enhancing patient testing rates to improve diabetes detection and outcomes.