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Leading charity, Diabetes UK, estimates that diabetes leads to almost 9600 leg, toe, or foot amputations in the UK every year. That’s 185 diabetes-related lower limb amputations each week. The charity estimates that 80% of these could have been prevented.

The estimated number of preventable amputations is based on the large proportion of these cases which begin with foot ulcers. Unhealed ulcers and foot infections are the main cause of diabetes-related amputations. Foot ulcers in people with diabetes are avoidable with proper foot care. They are also treatable if the first signs are spotted early and acted upon quickly, but are often unrecognised and untreated in people with diabetes until it is too late to save the foot or avoid amputation.

Diabetes affects more than 4.9 million people in the UK. Negligent diabetic healthcare is also the cause of some of the most common types of claims that we see against GPs. This is because diabetes is a risk factor for serious medical complications and conditions, including amputation.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a serious condition in which an individual’s blood sugar (glucose) level is too high. There are different types of diabetes, of which the most common are type 1 and type 2.

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. Type 1 diabetics need insulin injections to control their blood sugar.

In the increasingly common 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.

 

What can diabetes lead to?

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), threats to eyesight from retinopathy and blindness, cardiovascular disease, nephropathy (kidney damage) and neuropathy (nerve damage).

People with diabetes can reduce their risk of suffering these complications by:

  • controlling their blood pressure, blood glucose and blood fat levels,
  • keeping active
  • maintaining a healthy body weight.

Smoking and poor management of their diabetic health increase their risks. Good foot care is essential to reduce the risk of disability from lower limb amputation.

High blood sugar levels causes damage to the blood vessels and impairs the blood flow to the feet and legs. Uncontrolled diabetes is therefore a common cause of lower limb amputations. It has been estimated that someone with diabetes is 20 times more likely to experience an amputation than someone who is not affected by the condition.

Starting your diabetic amputation claim

To help investigate your diabetic amputation claim, we will obtain medical records, any investigation documentation and treatment protocols. We will then take a detailed witness statement from you and others as necessary and instruct independent medical experts to consider the care you received and the consequences for you of the failings in your care.

The defendant may accept responsibility for your injury as a result of negligent care, and we may be able to negotiate the appropriate compensation award at this point.

If settlement is not achieved, we will start court proceedings and take your case towards trial keeping the defendant under pressure to agree settlement of your claim. Over 95% of cases succeed without the need for trial but every case is prepared on the basis that a judge will need to decide all the issues in your claim that the defendant has not admitted. 

Why choose Boyes Turner?

For over 30 years, Boyes Turner’s top-rated and successful medical negligence team have helped clients disabled by diabetic amputation recover compensation to rebuild their lives.

Our clients benefit from early rehabilitation, specialist prosthetics, therapies and equipment, adaptations to their homes and vehicles to help restore their mobility and independence. Alongside the physical, therapeutic and psychological benefits of compensation for amputation, compensation brings financial security, by replacing lost earnings and the other expenses associated with severe disability.

  • We are nationally acclaimed medical negligence lawyers. We are recognised as leading clinical negligence experts by Chambers Directory and Legal 500.
  • Our award-winning solicitors are accredited for our expertise by the Law Society, AvMA and APIL. We secure maximum compensation settlements for our clients which make the best provision for their current and future needs.
  • We have an extensive and highly experienced medical negligence team with proven skills to succeed in high value, complex claims involving catastrophic injury and severe disability.

Read more about Boyes Turner

Client Story - Kevin Ridsdale amputation claim

Diabetic amputation claims frequently asked questions

What is charcot foot?

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).

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What are the symptoms of Charcot foot?

Symptoms which suggest Charcot foot include:

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How can people with diabetes reduce their risk of Charcot foot?

As with all diabetic foot conditions, the key to reducing the risk of Charcot foot is vigilant foot care, good diabetic health management, regular check-ups and prompt medical treatment of any injury (however minor).

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What conditions and complications of diabetes can lead to amputation compensation claims?

Our specialist amputation lawyers have recovered damages settlements and awards for amputee clients with diabetes following negligent treatment of:

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Why are diabetics at greater risk of amputation?

When an individual has diabetes, their body struggles to control their blood sugar (glucose) level and If blood glucose levels are persistently high, this damages the blood vessels and affects the circulation of blood to the legs and feet.

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How can diabetics reduce their risk of serious complications, including amputation?

People with diabetes should carry out visual foot checks daily. If their eyesight is impaired, they should seek help from someone who can check their feet for them, so that minor injuries are spotted, and medical help sought as soon as possible after injury occurs. In addition to their own checks, people with diabetes should 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:

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What types of negligent diabetes care lead to amputation?

Our friendly, experienced medical negligence lawyers have helped clients with diabetes who suffered amputation after:

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How much compensation can I claim for an amputation caused by negligent diabetic care?

Boyes Turner’s nationally acclaimed serious injury solicitors have recovered medical negligence compensation for amputees with diabetes for:

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Meet your specialist team

Our specialist Diabetic amputation claims team are considered leaders in the field and have a significant amount of expertise.
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Susan Brown

Partner

Julie Marsh headshot

Julie Marsh

Partner

Richard Money-Kyrle headshot

Richard Money-Kyrle

Partner

Sita Soni headshot

Sita Soni

Senior Associate - solicitor

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Vanessa Wand

Senior associate - solicitor

Rachel Makore headshot

Rachel Makore

Associate - solicitor

Tara Pileggi-Byrne photo

Tara Pileggi-Byrne

Associate - Solicitor

Alpa Rana headshot

Alpa Rana

Associate - solicitor

Fran Rothwell

Fran Rothwell

Associate solicitor

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Ben Ireland

Solicitor

Alice Carley headshot

Alice Carley

Paralegal

Audrey Elmore headshot

Audrey Elmore

Medical records coordinator

Nicky Melville headshot

Nicky Melville

Professional support assistant

Susan Brown photo
Julie Marsh headshot
Richard Money-Kyrle headshot
Sita Soni headshot
Vanessa Wand photo
Rachel Makore headshot
Tara Pileggi-Byrne photo
Alpa Rana headshot
Fran Rothwell
Ben Ireland headshot
Alice Carley headshot
Audrey Elmore headshot
Nicky Melville headshot

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What is diabetes?

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What is a medical negligence claim?

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Diabetic amputation cases

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Our medical negligence and personal injury teams have been nationally recognised for over 20 years because of their expertise, empathy and commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients.

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What our clients say

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Fran has been an amazing support through a very difficult time for me and my family. Always available to speak and kept me in the loop with anything happening, she has been so kind, and I thank her so much for helping and getting my mum the justice she deserved.

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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.

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I came to Boyes Turner desperate after searching the web for a firm to use for my sons case. He was only a few months so my mind was all over the place, but from the very first point of contact I felt a sense of relieve and belonging. I was welcomed and looked after by amazing staff who always communicated everything so well and went the extra mile to explain things and ensure I understood what was happening every step of the way (THANK YOU SUSAN BROWN). Susan was amazing I felt like I not only had a solicitor but someone who understood my emotions as a mother and always handled me with so much compassion and that was all I needed to keep me going for the 6 years of the case. Years went by in a breeze because of how professional Boyes Turner was. I am so greatful I went through it all with them and mananged to get my son a good compensation. We look forward our new life where my sons needs are priority after struggling for so long. Thank you Boyes Turner and thank you Susan Brown. My family and I are ever indebted.

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