Assessment of awareness of lifestyle modifications, practices and its barriers in lower limb amputees secondary to T2DM in Pune City A survey

Amputation is surgical removal of a distal part of the body; which could be a finger, toe or part of a limb through different levels depending on the pathology. Lower limb amputations are more common than upper limb amputations. Road traffic accidents, gangrene secondary to diabetes and peripheral arterial diseases, electric burns or soft tissue cancers lead to amputations. 30-80% lower limb amputations are secondary to diabetic complications.

Diabetes causes secondary complications of which impaired wound healing, impaired peripheral circulation and increased risk of infections leads to dry or wet gangrene. To prevent spread of infections amputation surgery is performed in patients suffering from gangrene of lower limbs.

Modifiable factors implicated in development of type 2 diabetes are – fat rich diet, oily food, sedentary lifestyle, addictions of alcohol, tobacco chewing, etc. Foot care is important in diabetics as peripheral sensations can be impaired thus, monitoring feet, detecting wounds and seeking appropriate treatment is important to prevent risk of amputations.

Lifestyle modifications is the first line treatment of type 2 diabetes. Lower limb amputees with type 2 diabetes are at a high risk of revision amputations. Lifestyle modifications reduce the risk of revision amputations due to diabetic complications. It is important to study awareness and practices of lifestyle modifications and barriers due to which amputees may not be able to practice appropriate lifestyle modification.

To assess awareness and practices of lifestyle modifications and its barriers in lower limb amputees secondary to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

A survey using purposive sampling method will be conducted on 128 participants over 6 months in Pune city. A self- designed questionnaire is developed and validated to assess awareness about lifestyle modifications, practices and barriers in lower limb amputees secondary to T2DM. Descriptive statistical analysis will be used to interpret the result.