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People with diabetes have a greater risk of amputation from health conditions, such as foot ulcers, infection, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and complications of surgery or traumatic injury. Diabetes leads to more than 9,500 leg, foot, and toe amputations in the UK each year, but 80% of these could be prevented with timely, correct care.
Amputation causes permanent disability which reduces the amputee’s mobility, dexterity, and independence. Many amputees find it harder to work, travel, move around their home or return to social and leisure activities. Amputation can also cause phantom limb pain or psychological injury, and increase the strain on family relationships.
If you have diabetes and your amputation was caused by medical negligence, we can help you claim the compensation you need to restore your independence through rehabilitation and prosthetics, specialist equipment and a suitably adapted home. Read more about other types of amputation negligence claims.
Contact our diabetic amputation solicitors
For more than 30 years, Boyes Turner's medical negligence solicitors have guided amputees through the claims process to secure the compensation and specialist support that they need to manage their disability and rebuild their lives.
You can contact us by telephone or by email for free, confidential advice from a medical negligence solicitor.
We will ask you to tell us briefly about your medical care leading up to your injury, and advise you about your time limits and whether we can help you investigate your claim. Once our investigations confirm you have grounds for a claim, we will notify the defendant healthcare provider (usually represented by NHS Resolution) on your behalf and invite them to respond, giving them an opportunity to admit liability (responsibility for your injuries) before court proceedings are issued.
If liability is admitted, we will obtain a judgment from the court and apply for a substantial interim payment to meet your needs arising from your injury and disability. If the healthcare provider or their legal representatives at NHS Resolution deny liability, we will advise you about the best way to proceed your claim. This may involve issuing court proceedings or inviting NHS Resolution to enter into settlement negotiations or mediation.
Partner, Medical negligence
We pursued a claim for our client, Kevin, against two GPs and the nurse practitioner who had failed to treat him as a diabetic foot care emergency and refer him for specialist care, and against the NHS Trust responsible for the incorrectly reported x-ray. Our medical experts believed that these negligent failings led to our client suffering an amputation which would have been avoided with earlier diagnosis and correct treatment.
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What has to be some of the most testing horrible times was dealt with in a dignified, honest, approachable and truly empathetic manner. I could not begin to do Susan justice for her handling of our case.
We had an outstanding experience with Boyes Turner Solicitors. From start to finish, their professionalism and expertise were evident, making the entire process smooth and stress-free. Their knowledge in the field is excellent, and they communicated with us clearly and promptly at every stage. We were especially impressed by how approachable and friendly the entire team was – they made us feel genuinely cared for throughout. While we're relieved that everything is now resolved, there’s a part of us that will miss the regular contact with such a fantastic group of people. We couldn’t recommend them more highly!
I approached Boyes Turner after my claim was turned down by one of the Medical Negligence Claim company. My wife was a victim of medical negligence. Boyes Turner have acted so efficiently on our behalf and was able to win our case. Anytime we contact them, their customer service was very good as they kept us fully informed of every level our case has developed. They are very friendly and approachable and great in their professional advise. I would strongly recommend anyone approach them for their legal and medical negligence services.
Working With Ben was very easy. He kept us well informed of what and how everything was working. He explained lots of legal jargon and was very sympathetic and sensitive to me and the situation. Reaching a resolution relatively quickly given the circumstances.
Totally recommend Ben who dealt with our case. He was very professional but also very approachable and his communication was excellent. He always got back to us with our many questions and never made us feel like we were wasting his time. I would really recommend this law firm.
Diabetes is a serious and increasingly common condition in which an individual’s blood sugar (glucose) level is too high. There are different types of diabetes, but type 1 and type 2 are most common.
In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin, the hormone which controls blood sugar by moving it out of the blood and breaking it down to produce energy. People with type 1 diabetes need insulin injections to control their blood sugar.
In type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough of it to control the blood sugar. If caught early, type 2 diabetes may be managed with lifestyle changes. As the disease progresses over time, medication may be needed.
Diabetes currently affects around 5 million people in the UK and is an important risk factor for serious medical complications and conditions, including amputation.
Diabetes is related to various other conditions, including thyroid disease, coeliac disease, dental problems and muscular conditions, such as Dupuytren’s contracture.
Diabetes also has its own serious complications, including hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), loss of eyesight from retinopathy and blindness, cardiovascular disease, nephropathy (kidney damage) and neuropathy (nerve damage) and amputation. Poor management of diabetes increases the risk of these complications. People with diabetes can help reduce their risks by attending their medical check-ups and regularly checking their feet, controlling their blood pressure, blood glucose and blood fat levels, as well as keeping active, maintaining a healthy body weight and not smoking.
People with diabetes are estimated to be 20 times more likely to experience an amputation than those who are not affected by the condition. High blood sugar causes damage to the blood vessels and reduces blood flow to the feet and legs, so it is important that GPs, hospital doctors and other healthcare professionals recognise the additional risks to patients with diabetes, act quickly to prevent minor injuries developing into dangerous conditions and regularly check the patient’s diabetic control.
Most diabetes-related amputations are caused by unhealed ulcers and foot infections. Foot ulcers in people with diabetes are avoidable with proper foot care. They can also be treated if spotted early and acted upon quickly, but they are often unrecognised and untreated in people with diabetes until it is too late to save the foot or avoid amputation.
Our specialist amputation lawyers have recovered compensation settlements for amputee clients with diabetes following negligent treatment of:
Charcot foot is a serious, limb-threatening complication of diabetes. It is caused by a combination of factors, including reduced muscle control, tissue damage and loss of sensation from diabetic neuropathy (damage to the nerves). The condition is often triggered by a minor injury, such as a sprain or a twisted ankle, which develops into more serious injury as the bones of the ankle and foot degenerate and deform. If incorrectly treated, Charcot foot can lead to disability and amputation.
People with diabetes are at increased risk of Charcot foot because as their condition causes their gait and balance to deteriorate, they are more susceptible to sprains, knocks, and cuts. They are then less likely to be aware of their injury, continuing to weight-bear and walk on the injured foot, which further damages the bones and tissues leading to serious disability.
Symptoms which suggest Charcot foot include:
If Charcot foot is suspected or diagnosed, the sufferer should be referred immediately to a multidisciplinary foot care team. Treatment will include taking weight-bearing pressure off the foot and immobilising the foot to allow it to heal in the correct position by putting it in a plaster cast. The patient will undergo regular X-rays and appointments with a podiatrist to monitor the condition.
Sufferers of Charcot foot have a high risk of further serious complications from infection and must remain vigilant about injuries or changes to their feet. If there is any sign of new ulceration, a wound, swelling or discolouration, the patient must be referred within 24 hours to a multidisciplinary foot care team as any infection must be treated urgently to avoid the need for amputation.
When an individual has diabetes, their body struggles to control their blood sugar (glucose) level. If blood glucose levels are persistently high, this damages the blood vessels and affects the circulation of blood to the legs and feet. Poor blood circulation causes damage to the nerves, resulting in reduced sensation (feeling) in their feet. This means that people with diabetes may not notice minor injuries to their feet, particularly if they also have impaired vision from retinopathy, which prevents them from visually checking their feet.
Delays in recognition and treatment of these minor injuries increase their risk of serious foot problems, including Charcot foot, ulcers, infection and gangrene, which can lead to lower limb amputation.
People with diabetes should carry out visual foot checks daily so that minor injuries can be spotted and treated as soon as possible after injury occurs. If their eyesight is impaired, they should ask someone else to check their feet for them.
They should also have regular check-ups with trained healthcare professionals and access to foot-care specialists and multidisciplinary foot-care teams. It is essential that people with diabetes see their GP immediately if they feel generally unwell or if their feet have cuts or blisters, redness, warmth and swelling, or a discharge which oozes from the foot.
GP treatment might include:
Delays or mistakes in diabetic foot-care treatment are common causes of diabetes-related amputation negligence claims.
Our amputation claims solicitors have helped clients with diabetes who suffered amputation after:
Each client’s compensation will depend on their individual injury and the impact of their disability on their life. Amputation claims arising from negligent medical treatment for patients with diabetes often include compensation for:
