When might a foot need to be amputated?

Perhaps something that scares our patients with diabetes the most is the specter of a possible amputation. This is something we have worked very hard to avoid and prevent here in the United Kingdom, which is why we set up a network of specialist diabetic foot clinics. Of course, sometimes, despite best intervention, it is necessary to offer an amputation as a part of treating the diabetic foot. But the indications are very few and often include uncontrolled infection or severe circulatory problems that have previously attempted to any improvement. Very occasionally it's based on patient choice, but we feel here in the United Kingdom the focus is on early review, not accentuate to an extent that we would need to offer an amputation in order to control it.