Bridgetown.
Diabetes are among top five causes of death in Barbados and three in five Barbadians who had major amputations will die within five years of the operation.
These statistics were disclosed by Minister of Health Donville Inniss recently :
"The 2007 risk factor survey for Barbados revealed that almost 15 percent of person the age of 25 are living with diabetes mellitus .Diabetes is currently among the top five causes of death in the country and also contributes to death from heart disease and sroke", Inniss said.
"Diabetes via the diabetic foot also remains the most common cause of digit or limb amputation as well, accounting for the majority of those 200 procedures performed per year. Unfortunately, amputation is also a predictor of death.with an estimated 60 percent of individuals with a major amputation dying with five years of the procedure", he added.
