Amongst the diabetic population in Fiji, there are about 200 to 300 amputations per hundred thousand diabetic population per year.
This was the outcome of the research conducted by Dr Anaseini Ratu who made her presentation at the Pacific Islands Health Research Symposium held at Fiji National University’s Pacifika Campus.
Dr Ratu says for every diabetic Fijian of Indian descent that gets an amputation, there are about three indigenous diabetics that get an amputation.
Dr Ratu says there are about 60 diabetic amputations in Fiji compared to every single diabetic Australian that gets an amputation.
She says we need to make sure that all diabetics get screened properly for diabetic foot sepsis.
Dr Ratu also stressed that when patients have diabetic foot sepsis they need to come as early as possible to seek medical help.
She says we have known for years that we have a big problem with diabetes and amputations amongst people who have diabetes but we have never before measured how many amputations are actually occurring amongst the diabetic population.
Dr Ratu says this is amongst the highest rates in the world.
