How often do diabetic ulcers actually lead to amputation?

Diabetic ulcers: The results from different studies vary so there are wide ranges. The annual incidence of ulcers in diabetics is 2.5 to just under 11%; the incidence of amputation is .25% to 1.8%. http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ceweb/conditions/dia/0602/0602_background.jsp.

Multiple factors: The lifetime risk used to be 15% of diabetics would develop an ulcer and of those 15% would go on to amputation but that number has been steadily increasing to 20-25% of ulcers lead to amputation. Multiple factors include infection, circulation, kidney status, and ability to take pressure off the area, sugar control just to name a few.

Diabetic ulcer: Diabetic ulcers are usually seen the patient does have poor circulation and poor sensation. Amputation is usually seen either due to poor circulation in which no blood is getting down to the extremity or by infection which has spread and is no longer considered curable or treatable with IV antibiotics.