Kharib: 85% of limb amputations are linked to diabetes and are preventable
Abdulkarim Al-Abdullah: Dr. Salma Kharibut, the elected president of D-Foot International and head of the Diabetic Foot and Wounds Unit at Jaber Hospital, stated that more than 85% of limb amputations are linked to diabetes, noting that the majority of these cases are preventable through early, regular foot examinations, risk stratification of patients, and timely intervention.
In a press statement during the opening of the first advanced training course organized by D-Foot International in Kuwait, focused on diabetic foot risk classification and prevention and supported by the Urgo Medical Foundation, Kharibut said that “the situation in Kuwait is unique,” pointing out that Kuwait has one of the highest diabetes prevalence rates in the Middle East, and that diabetic foot is the second leading cause of amputation in the country after road traffic accidents.
She referred to a historical study conducted in Kuwait in 1989 on 86 patients hospitalized due to foot ulcers, which showed an amputation rate of 55% among them, with an average hospital stay of 66 days.
Kharibut added that the establishment of the first specialized diabetic foot clinic in Kuwait contributed to reducing amputation rates by more than 50%, emphasizing the importance of expanding early detection and specialized follow-up programs to limit diabetic foot complications. She stressed the importance of implementing early, regular foot examinations and classifying patients according to the IWGDF (International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot) risk classification system, explaining that the Diabetic Foot Treatment and Surgery Center at Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Hospital provides regular examinations and follow-ups for patients, thereby helping to reduce rates of ulcers, amputations, and mortality, and improving survival chances.
Kharibut affirmed that diabetic foot is “not merely a surgical issue, but a multidisciplinary crisis that requires a common language: the language of risk classification,” clarifying that “when we can classify risks correctly, we can prevent complications; and when we prevent, we save limbs and lives and preserve dignity.”
She explained that the course’s slogan, “From Risk Assessment to Prevention,” embodies the core philosophy of D-Foot International, noting that the course was designed to be practical, interactive, and applied, with the aim of enhancing knowledge exchange and improving the efficiency of medical teams in preventing diabetic foot complications.
