Certain Diabetes Medicine May Raise Risk for Amputation

French researchers recently discovered that certain diabetes medicines known as diuretics may raise the risk for amputation. This conclusion was obtained after an analysis of approximately 1,500 patients with type 2 diabetes. After seven years, 13% of participants who used diuretics had gone through an amputation or other procedure of the lower leg. This was compared to 7% of those who didn’t take diuretics. Likewise, taking diuretics was found to have a 75% increased risk of having an amputation or a bypass or angioplasty.

Based on these findings, researchers from Bichat Hospital in Paris warn that diuretics be used cautiously in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, further studies are needed to confirm these results.

These findings were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting on October 1, 2018.