If you have diabetes, did you know that your relationship status and gender might affect your risk of having a leg amputation below the knee?
At an upcoming health conference in Germany, some new findings are going to be discussed.
These findings show that if you’re divorced and have diabetes, you might be at a higher risk of this type of amputation compared to if you were married.
Additionally, if you’re a man with diabetes, you might also have a higher risk compared to women.
Behind the Research
Dr. Stefan Jansson and his team from Örebro University in Sweden carried out this study. They aimed to understand the different factors that might increase the risk of leg amputations for people with diabetes.
People with diabetes can sometimes face problems with their blood vessels, making them more prone to health issues. One severe outcome can be the need to amputate a part of the leg.
However, with better diabetes treatment, the number of people needing such amputations has been going down.
Digging Deeper into the Study
The researchers focused on people in Sweden who were diagnosed with diabetes between 2007 and 2016. Out of these, most had type 2 diabetes.
They then studied various factors, such as age, gender, lifestyle habits, and even relationship status, to see if they played any role in increasing the amputation risk.
Key Findings:
Relationship Status: Divorced people had a 67% higher risk of leg amputation compared to those who were married.
Gender: Men had a 57% higher risk than women.
Age: For every additional year in age, the risk went up by 8%.
Other Health Factors: Those who had other foot-related health issues or were on certain treatments, like insulin, were also at a higher risk.
The research suggests that one reason divorced people might be at a higher risk is that they might not take care of themselves as well, especially if they’re living alone.
This might be particularly true for men, who might become more isolated after divorce and not engage in physical activity as much.
Interestingly, the study also found that overweight individuals had a lower risk compared to those of normal weight. This was a surprising find and the reasons aren’t clear.
It could be because overweight people heal wounds better, or perhaps those with normal weight had other health issues.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you have diabetes, it’s important to be aware of these findings. It doesn’t mean that if you’re divorced or a man you’ll definitely have an amputation. It’s more about understanding the risks and taking steps to stay healthy.
Lifestyle plays a big role. Staying active, not smoking, and keeping a watch on your weight can make a difference.
And if you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s essential to get regular check-ups and pay attention to any warning signs, especially related to your feet.
Lastly, the researchers emphasize that older people with diabetes need special care, even if they haven’t had the condition for very long. The age factor seems to play a significant role in increasing the risk.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about new drugs to treat diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and heavy cannabis use may decrease the incidence of diabetes.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about nutrients that may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, and results showing warnings about promising diabetes drug metformin.
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