Unanticipated Second Leg Bilateral Below Knee Amputation in a Diabetic Amputee: A Case Report

Diabetes mellitus-related lower extremity amputation increases health burden and reduces patients' quality of life, mortality and morbidity rate in a country like India. The most common complication in DM patients is uncontrolled hyperglycemia and foot ulceration. We report an unpredicted occurrence of right leg amputation in diabetic amputee patients. A 46-year-old male patient developed a complication to his contralateral limb due to poor negligence even after his first above-knee amputation; the patient was again readmitted for the below-knee amputation and hyperglycaemia. Although all the major complications of DM like hyperglycemia, cataracts, diabetic foot and diabetic foot amputation were found in the same index patient. The risk of amputation is high in diabetic patients and the prevalence of amputation is even extremely high in diabetic smokers. Hence proper lifestyle modification is needed along with dietary approaches to prevent and manage diabetes related complications. Regular foot examination and patient education are necessary which alerts the patient and family members to avoid the major risk of DM complications.