"Infection Is Our Worst Enemy"

Foot injuries are the number-one reason for hospitalizations in people with diabetes. Even the most minor injury can cause a foot ulcer, which can lead to an amputation. About 15% of people with diabetes develop a foot ulcer, and about 25% of foot-ulcer patients require an amputation. Black, Hispanic and Native American patients with diabetes are 2 to 3 times as likely to have an amputation as whites. Protecting your feet from injury—and checking your feet every day with a mirror to spot problems—can help prevent amputations.