Promising Innovation To Eliminate Diabetes-induced Amputation Underway

Quest International University (QIU), a Public-Private Partnership University with the state government of Perak, Malaysia, has disclosed plans to begin clinical trial on a promising innovation to tackle diabetes-induced amputation.

A study titled: “Global estimates of diabetes-related amputations incidence in 2010–2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis findings showed that the global annual incidence of diabetes-related minor and major amputations during the 2010-2020 period was estimated to be 139.97 and 94.82 cases/100,000 people with diabetes, respectively.

In Nigeria, estimates of 10 per cent people with diabetes suffer lower limb complications and the incidence is on the rise, a study titled: “Management of diabetic foot ulcers and the challenging points: An endocrine view”, disclosed, adding that presently, Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) account for the majority of non-traumatic amputations performed in most Nigerian tertiary hospitals. DFU is common, disabling and frequently leads to amputation of the leg, it added.

The vice-chancellor, QIU, Professor Zita Mohd Fahmi, during a tour of the University, organized by QNET, a lifestyle company, further explained that, “Because of inflammation and a compromised immune system, people with diabetes are more susceptible to skin infections. Diabetes can damage blood vessels and decrease blood flow to their feet, so the infection could not heal rapidly. Conversely, a slow healing process may result in serious consequences as infections have the potential to spread to other parts of their body and/or cause gangrene if left untreated.”

To reverse diabetes-induced amputation, QIU has commenced a research on bioplastic, made from microorganism material.

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Explaining how the innovation works, Fahmi said, “The plant has antibacterial activity, which help to reduce the growth of the bacteria, All the doctor needs to do is to put the bioplastic material on the wound, so that the active antibacterial from the pesiflora plant will be absorbed by the wound, thereby killing all the bacteria on the wound.

“The antibacterial will help kill the Bacteria and help regrow the blood vessels. When you have the blood vessel growing, then you will have faster healing.”

She harped that the healing process depends on the size and severity of the wound, emphasising the significance of this development for diabetic patients, who frequently have chronic wounds that are hard to heal because of nerve loss.

“We hope that this revolutionary technology will soon be available to patients, providing effective and rapid treatment of injuries.

An advocate for diabetic patients in Nigeria, Sam Eferaro told me that the innovation is a welcome development, while appealing that Africans should be included in the clinical trial when it begins.