Study finds dramatic rise in type-two diabetes limb amputations in England

BBC News reports that the "number of people in England having a limb amputated because of type-two diabetes has risen dramatically." Obviously this is related to the continuing rise in the number of people developing type 2 diabetes and also with the illness developing when people are younger than previously.

Type 2 diabetes occurs mostly in people who are overweight/obese, and it is one of the very serious side-effects of the many prescription drugs, e.g. corticosteroids, that weaken blood vessel walls, resulting in fluid retention/sodium retention/obesity/raised blood pressure and many other health problems.

To lower your risk of developing obesity, type 2 diabetes, etc. in the first place, it would be prudent to avoid prescription drugs unless they are really necessary, and make a serious effort to minimise your intake of salt/sodium and salty food. - Avoiding salty food entails avoiding the highly-salted processed foods like bacon, sausages, bread, cheese, cornflakes etc. See Sodium in foods

Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

amitriptyline

prescribed steroids and HRT

See advice for pregnant mothers

Children and Obesity

A two-year-old girl who lost both her hands after contracting meningitis is to be fitted with a new set of prosthetic hands

Two-year-old girl prepares for her new prosthetic hands
Article in the Telegraph

Extracts:

"Tilly Lockey will be fitted with the £20,000 myoelectric hands in April, which will have full movement guided by a small computer device linked to the electrical impulse from her muscles.

Meanwhile, doctors have given her a silicone replacement to play with to get her used to having hands again, 18 months after they were amputated.

The money for her prosthetics, which are not available on the NHS, was raised within 24 hours, thanks to an appeal held in Tilly's home town of Tow Low, Durham.

However, because she is growing so fast Tilly will need two new sets of the myoelectric hands a year, at a cost of £40,000."

"Tilly contracted group B meningococcal septicaemia in January last year and spent four weeks in Newcastle General Hospital before she was allowed to return home.

The toddler then had to have both hands amputated at the wrist, and also lost all her toes."

It's a terrible financial burden for Tilly's parents. I personally think the NHS should contribute part of the cost. - You can read more about Tilly's story here http://www.tillylockey.co.uk/ and the site suggests that if you are a celebrity you may like to 'give a hand' by donating a signed hand print to be auctioned off with the proceeds going to help buy Tilly new prosthetic hands. .

A young mother had to have her right leg amputated after doctors failed to spot she was suffering from a rare type of cancer for seven month

Mother loses leg after doctors 'miss cancer'
Article in the Telegraph

Extracts:

"Sally Hurst, 29, a radio producer, repeatedly complained of pains in her knee before it was discovered she had potentially fatal and aggressive tumour.

She had been planning to marry her fiance Peter on an Italian cliff top when her physiotherapist referred her to a specialist. Subsequent tests revealed she the bone cancer Osteosarcoma in her right tibia and had to have her leg amputated from her mid-thigh.

Mrs Hurst had to postpone the wedding, and the couple all but gave up hope of having children.

She said: "For months I was made to feel like a hypochondriac and felt as though I was just being neurotic but ultimately, if I had been referred to a specialist earlier, I might not have lost my leg."

Three months after first visiting her doctor, she was sent for physiotherapy for "ligament damage".

But the pain became so bad that she was walking with a crutch and was given a disabled parking space by her employers.

Mrs Hurst said: "I was ringing my physio constantly complaining of the pain and alarm bells started ringing with him that it wasn't quite right.""

"She and Mr Hurst married the following year at a small ceremony in Rochdale Town Hall, and eight months ago Mrs Hurst gave birth to their daughter Holly.

Mrs Hurst added: "I was told I was going through the menopause in October 2006 as a result of the intense chemotherapy.

"So we couldn't believe it when we found out I was expecting. I felt my body was giving something back to me.""

"Mrs Hurst is now taking legal action against her local West Lodge Surgery, in Pudsey, West Yorks, alleging clinical negligence resulting in the loss of a limb.

Rachelle Mahapatra, of law firm Irwin Mitchell, who is representing her, said: "Despite her continued pleas for help from her GP her symptoms were dismissed as a sprain.

"Time is of the essence when you have an aggressive tumour and the delay meant she could not be considered for limb-sparing surgery.""

The incompetence/negligence/ignorance of doctors is so frequently, as in this case, compounded by their insulting sexist attitudes and demoralising remarks about hypochondria and neuroticism.