Apollo launches dedicated Diabetic Foot clinics

Hyderabad: The Apollo Hospitals Group has launched dedicated Apollo Diabetic Foot clinics, the first of which is opening at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad on World Diabetes Day. The dedicated clinic would provide optimal preventive and therapeutic care in the treatment of diabetic foot with a multidisciplinary team.

The specialised clinics would help in identification of signs of a diabetic foot early and prevent complications through proper diabetes management. The aim would be to reduce risk of ulcers, infections and lower limb amputations due to infections arising from diabetes. The group is planning of opening similar clinics at across the country.

"The proportion of diabetes among the NCDs is increasing at an alarming rate. A government study earlier this year showed that 11.5 per cent of Indians above the age of 45 had diabetes. Among the most common complications is diabetic foot that results from the dual impact of peripheral artery disease and diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage). There is lessening of sensations such as pain leading to serious injury from even a small blister that gets infected, which may require amputation of the limb. Studies has shown that around 85 per cent of all diabetes related foot or leg amputations begin with a foot ulcer. clinic will be a centre of excellence (CoE) for diabetic foot care and would help in addressing this growing healthcare challenge," Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman of the group said.

The multi-disciplinary team at the Diabetic Foot Clinic would include diabetologists, orthopaedic and vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, microbiologists, podiatrists specialised in treatment of feet and lower limb related disorders, specialist nurses, and technicians skilled in the biomechanics of movement.

Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, of the group said, "People with diabetes are at greater risk of complications and infection, and disease of the foot remains a major threat. The growing incidence of lower limb amputations in India, currently at around 40,000 every year is a matter of concern as most of these are due to diabetes. The pain, effect on mobility, depression and inability to work after foot ulcers and amputations have a devastating impact on the quality of life. At the same time, no single person can treat a diabetic foot."