Diabetes is spiking and California has the highest number of new cases in the country.
Doctors are warning this trend is also leading to more amputations.
USCF’s Dr. Michael Conte attributed the rise to a combination of factors including nutrition and a lack of exercise.
"There are particular disparities with regard to race and ethnicity," he said.
"So, non-white Hispanics and African Americans are about 50% more likely than whites to get diabetes for reason that are not entirely clear."
Dr. Conte is co-director of the UCSF Center for Limb Preservation and the Diabetic Foot. He told KCBS Radio's "As Prescribed" that one of the most dreaded complications of diabetes is lower leg amputation.
"Although there are a lot of amputations that occur, about 80,000 a year in the U.S., we think three-quarters of these or more are preventable," he said.
Dr. Conte's clinic saw a rise in amputations during the coronavirus pandemic as people stayed away from doctors until it was too late.
He advised diabetics to always keep a close watch on their feet.
"Looking at the bottom of the feet, particularly for any blisters, sores or callouses that many be opening, any early signs of infections or open wounds that don’t rapidly heal," he explained.
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