The theme of this year's World Diabetes Day, which is celebrated on Monday, is "Diabetes and Foot Care," and the emphasis falls on foot problems caused by diabetes, one of the most serious and costly complications of the disease.

"Many serious complications, such as kidney failure or blindness can affect individuals with diabetes, but it is the complications of the foot that are one of the most serious and costly complications of diabetes. Of all lower extremity amputations, 40 to 70 percent are related to diabetes,"the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement.

However, it is possible to reduce amputation rates by 49 percent to 85 percent, through a care strategy that combines prevention, treatment of foot ulcers, close monitoring, and education of people with diabetes and healthcare professionals, the United Nations agency added.

World Diabetes Day, celebrated every year on Nov. 14, was established by WHO and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 1991, aiming at coordinating diabetes advocacy worldwide.

The slogan for the 2005 campaign is "Put Feet First: Prevent Amputations".

"Somewhere in the world, a leg is lost to diabetes every thirty seconds. Given the high incidence of diabetic foot ulcers and the frequency with which, though often treatable, they lead to amputation, the choice of theme is highly appropriate," said IDF.

"This will enable IDF to promote forcefully the message that, with relatively low investment, governments can advance education and prevention that will result in lower rates of amputation than the unacceptable figures we see today," it added.

Source: Xinhua