Two amputations a week are carried out on diabetes patients in Leicestershire | ITV News

ITV News

10 May 201802:47

Summary

TLDRThe transcript discusses the severe impact of diabetes, focusing on a 73-year-old man named Novel who had his leg amputated due to complications from the disease. Novel shares his emotional journey, highlighting the loss of independence and struggles with phantom limb sensations. The report emphasizes the rising number of diabetes cases in Leicester, particularly in the South Asian community, which is more susceptible to type 2 diabetes due to genetic and lifestyle factors. Medical professionals also point out the increasing need for amputations in diabetic patients, urging people to take the condition seriously.

Takeaways

🩺 A 73-year-old man named Novel was diagnosed with diabetes around 20 years ago.
😔 Complications from diabetes led to the amputation of his left leg, which came as a shock to him.
🚶‍♂️ The loss of his leg drastically impacted his independence, especially with daily tasks like cooking and ironing.
📊 The number of adults with diabetes in Leicester has risen by a third in the past five years, now affecting over 28,000 people.
🍽 Most cases are type 2 diabetes, closely linked to diet and lifestyle factors.
🌍 The South Asian community is disproportionately affected by diabetes, making up 8% of diagnosed cases despite being only 4% of the UK population.
🧬 There is a genetic predisposition to diabetes in the South Asian community, exacerbated by lifestyle and dietary habits.
🚑 People with diabetes have impaired blood flow, leading to higher risks of infections and amputations, particularly due to gangrene.
⚠️ In Leicester, there are between one and two amputations a week related to diabetes complications.
🦿 Although Novel now uses a prosthetic limb, he still experiences phantom limb sensations and severe pain, making it hard for him to mentally accept the loss of his leg.

Q & A

Who is the main subject in the script, and what condition is he suffering from?
-The main subject in the script is a 73-year-old man named Novel, who has been suffering from diabetes for about 20 years.
What major complication did Novel face due to his diabetes?
-Novel had to have his left leg amputated due to complications from diabetes.
How did Novel react to the decision of amputation?
-Novel was shocked when the doctors said there was no other alternative but to amputate. He accepted the decision but found it hard to cope with.
What are some of the challenges Novel faces after the amputation?
-Novel mentioned that he lost his independence. He can no longer cook for himself or do things like ironing, which has been a major change for him.
How has the prevalence of diabetes in Leicester changed in recent years?
-The number of adults in Leicester with diabetes has increased by a third in the last five years, rising to over 28,000 in 2017.
Which type of diabetes is most common in Leicester, and what is it linked to?
-The majority of diabetes cases in Leicester are type 2 diabetes, which is linked to diet and lifestyle.
Why are people from the South Asian community more affected by diabetes in the UK?
-People from the South Asian community are disproportionately affected due to a combination of genetic factors and lifestyle or diet choices. Despite making up 4% of the UK population, they account for 8% of diagnosed diabetes cases.
What is one serious complication of diabetes mentioned in the script, and how common is it?
-One serious complication of diabetes mentioned is gangrene, which leads to more amputations. It is more common in diabetic patients than people typically expect.
How frequently are amputations performed on diabetic patients in Leicestershire?
-In Leicestershire, an estimated one to two amputations are performed each week on patients with diabetes.
What unusual sensation does Novel experience after the amputation?
-Novel experiences phantom limb sensation, where he feels as though his amputated leg is still there, along with occasional severe pain.
What message does Novel want to convey to others about diabetes?
-Novel wants to warn people, regardless of age or ethnicity, to take diabetes seriously and not underestimate the impact it can have on their lives.

Outlines

00:00

🚶‍♂️ Coping with Diabetes and Amputation

This paragraph discusses the life of a 73-year-old man named Novel, who was diagnosed with diabetes 20 years ago. Due to complications from the disease, he had to undergo an amputation of his left leg. The paragraph details his initial shock upon learning that amputation was the only option and his subsequent acceptance of this life-altering event. Novel's life has drastically changed, especially in terms of losing his independence, as he can no longer perform daily tasks like cooking or ironing.

📈 Rising Diabetes Rates in Leicester

This paragraph highlights the significant increase in diabetes cases in Leicester over the past five years, with more than 28,000 adults diagnosed by 2017. The majority of these cases are type 2 diabetes, which is closely linked to diet and lifestyle. The paragraph also mentions that the South Asian community is disproportionately affected, representing only 4% of the UK's population but accounting for 8% of diagnosed diabetes cases. The combination of genetic factors and lifestyle choices is identified as key contributors to this disparity.

💉 Diabetes and Increased Risk of Amputations

The paragraph explains how diabetes leads to impaired blood supply, making patients more susceptible to infections and, consequently, amputations. It emphasizes that amputations among diabetic patients are more common than people might think, with gangrene being a significant issue. In the Leicester area alone, medical professionals perform one to two amputations per week on diabetic patients.

🦿 Living with a Prosthetic Limb

In this paragraph, Novel shares his experience of living with a prosthetic limb after losing his leg to diabetes. He describes the psychological challenge of accepting the loss, as he still feels sensations in the missing limb, sometimes experiencing severe phantom pains. Even when wearing his prosthetic, Novel often feels as though his real foot is still there, reflecting the complex emotional and physical adjustments required after such a significant life change.

⚠️ Raising Awareness About Diabetes

The final paragraph focuses on Novel's desire to raise awareness about the seriousness of diabetes. After losing so much to the disease, he urges others, regardless of age or ethnicity, to not underestimate its impact. His story serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of taking diabetes seriously to prevent severe consequences like those he has faced.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic health condition where the body is unable to properly process glucose, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. In the script, it highlights the severe consequences of diabetes, particularly type 2, which is linked to lifestyle and diet. The speaker describes how the condition has led to significant health issues, including amputation, illustrating its serious impact.

💡Amputation

Amputation refers to the surgical removal of a limb or part of a limb. In the context of the video, it is a devastating consequence of complications from diabetes. The character describes losing his left leg due to gangrene caused by poor blood supply, a common complication for diabetic patients.

💡Prosthetic limb

A prosthetic limb is an artificial replacement for a body part, typically a leg or arm. The speaker in the video now relies on a prosthetic limb after the amputation of his left leg. Despite using the prosthetic, he mentions the mental and physical challenges of adapting to the loss of his real limb, including phantom limb sensations.

💡Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't produce enough insulin. This type is closely linked to diet and lifestyle, and is more common among adults. The video highlights how this condition disproportionately affects the South Asian community in the UK, emphasizing the genetic and lifestyle risk factors.

💡Gangrene

Gangrene refers to the death of body tissue due to a lack of blood supply or infection. It is often seen in people with diabetes due to their impaired circulation. The video mentions how diabetic patients, like the one in the story, are increasingly prone to gangrene, which can result in amputations.

💡Phantom limb pain

Phantom limb pain is the sensation that an amputated or missing limb is still attached, often accompanied by pain or discomfort. The speaker in the video explains how he still feels his amputated leg and experiences severe pain, despite having a prosthetic leg. This condition adds emotional and physical challenges to his recovery.

💡South Asian community

The South Asian community in the UK refers to individuals with origins from the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The video explains that this group, though only making up 4% of the population, is disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes, accounting for 8% of all diagnosed cases. This highlights the ethnic and genetic factors contributing to the condition.

💡Complications

Complications in medical terms refer to secondary health problems that arise as a result of an initial illness or condition. In the case of the speaker, complications from diabetes, such as poor blood circulation and infections, led to the amputation of his leg. These complications are common in advanced diabetes and significantly affect patients' quality of life.

💡Impaired blood supply

Impaired blood supply means that the circulation of blood to certain parts of the body is reduced or blocked. This is a common issue for people with diabetes, leading to problems like gangrene. The video mentions this as a key reason why amputations are increasingly common in diabetic patients.

💡Independence

Independence refers to the ability to perform daily tasks without relying on others. The speaker describes how his amputation has greatly impacted his independence, as he can no longer cook for himself or perform household chores like ironing. This loss of independence is one of the most profound changes he experiences after losing his leg.

Highlights

A 73-year-old man named Novel was diagnosed with diabetes about 20 years ago.

Due to complications from diabetes, Novel had to have his left leg amputated.

Novel was shocked when the doctors told him there was no alternative but amputation.

After the amputation, Novel struggled with the loss of independence, unable to perform daily tasks like cooking and ironing.

The number of adults in Leicester with diabetes has risen by a third in the last five years, reaching over 28,000 in 2017.

The majority of diabetes cases in Leicester are type 2, linked to diet and lifestyle.

People from the South Asian community in the UK are disproportionately affected by diabetes, making up 4% of the population but accounting for 8% of diagnosed cases.

There is a genetic element that increases the risk of diabetes in the South Asian community, but lifestyle and diet are also key factors.

People with diabetes have impaired blood supply, making them more prone to infections and, increasingly, amputations.

In Leicester, there are between one and two amputations a week due to diabetes complications.

Novel now uses a prosthetic limb but struggles mentally to accept the loss of his real leg.

He experiences phantom limb sensations and severe pain, feeling as if his leg is still there.

Despite using a prosthetic leg, Novel still finds it hard to adjust mentally to the change.

Novel has lost a lot to diabetes and now wants to raise awareness about the seriousness of the disease.

He urges people, regardless of age or ethnicity, not to underestimate the severity of diabetes.