There are no diabetes-specific hospital procedures. However, lower-limb amputation is often associated with diabetes.
Lower-limb amputation
For people with diabetes, high blood glucose levels can damage the nerves (peripheral neuropathy) and result in poor circulation (peripheral vascular disease) in the lower limbs, potentially causing ischaemia (reduced blood supply to tissues), gangrene and impaired wound healing. These complications may lead to foot ulcers and infections, and in the most severe cases, amputations of the affected toes, foot and lower leg. Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputation.
In 2017–18, there were just under 6,000 lower-limb amputations provided in hospital to patients with a principal and/or additional diagnosis of diabetes. Lower-limb amputations were more common among males and those aged 65 and over (with 76% and 58% of such amputations, respectively).
Note that hospitalisation data presented here provides counts on the total number of in-hospital episodes for amputations, but cannot determine the number of individuals undergoing amputation, the number of repeat amputations, nor establish the link between the amputation and diabetes.