A PRACTICAL

Health Matters
Preventing
Future Problems
Physical health
Keeping as fit and as healthy as you can after your
amputation is important. Effectively managing your
long term health can assist you to prevent future
problems. Below you will find some key areas that
affect amputee’s general health and wellbeing.
Foot health
The leading causes of lower limb amputations are
complications resulting from diabetes and peripheral
vascular disease.
Any injury to a foot with poor circulation will be
slow to heal or may fail to heal at all.
If you have lost a limb due to diabetes it is important
that you take steps to prevent this from happening
to your remaining limb.
Foot health tips include:
• Check your foot every day for any changes
• Use a hand mirror to see underneath your foot
• Check inside your shoes for foreign objects
before putting them on
• Wear correct fitting shoes at all times and
never go barefoot
• Wash and dry your feet properly every day
• Change your socks daily
• Have an annual foot check from a podiatrist
• Maintain good blood sugar levels.
Appropriate and early treatment of foot wounds
increases the possibility of healing those wounds.
DON’T WAIT. If you have noticed a change,
contact your doctor, podiatrist or healthcare
provider immediately.
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