Diabetes-related health complications can cause severe nerve and tissue damage to the lower limbs. In the worst cases (and, unfortunately, this happens all too often), this necessitates amputation. The medical research field is working on ways to prevent or heal such damage before such drastic action is required. But what of those who do lose feet or legs? The next step is learning to use prosthetics. And, as the LA Times reports today, the prosthetic industry is experiencing a boom as diabetes rates soar.

Let's look at some numbers to illustrate just how much demand has grown: there are now 1.9 million amputees in the US, reports the Times article, and approximately sixty percent of those are diabetes-related. Compare this, says reporter Daniel Costello, with the 630 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who have undergone amputation. A shocker, isn't it? It's also estimated that around five of every one thousand diabetics eventually require amputation of damaged feet and/or legs.

These days, "there's no such thing as a slow day," remarks William Yule, prosthetist and manager of Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics in Downey. "It can be hard because you can't help thinking a lot of these people don't need to be here," says Yule, alluding to the fact that so many of his clients are overweight Type 2 diabetics. Times reporter Costello spoke with Yule and others in the prosthetic industry and found that the upswing in business is an across-the-board phenomenon that some say is unrivaled since the Civil War, when maimed soldiers returning from battle brought about an unprecedented demand for prosthetics.

The Times article also includes a photo gallery that's worth checking out.

An "incredible story of dedication and perseverance" is how dLife pitches its upcoming story on US Army Sergeant First Class Mark Thompson (pictured at right). It does sound like an awesome story and definitely worth a look. Says dLife, Thompson, who is diabetic, ended up in battle in Iraq and trying to manage his diabetes even when under fire. Talk about your tough challenges. Thompson was diagnosed with diabetes after becoming a combat arms commander and he didn't want to give all that up because of the disease. No, sir. He continued to serve and ended up joining his comrades in Iraq.

In its press release, dLife says that Thompson was told he could never be deployed to Iraq. Seems he wrangled it anyway. He found the idea of quitting "unacceptable." Says Thompson, "diabetes was not going to stop me from being who I wanted to be." He came up with a plan for managing his diabetes in the field, and successfully plugged that plan to his superiors. The caveat: that he could serve under strict guidelines and could be sent home at any moment if necessary. The first problem was discovered immediately: the more than fifty pounds of gear Thompson has to lug around crushed his automatic insulin pump. D'oh! Worse, he knew it would take over a month for a new one to arrive by mail. Even bigger d'oh! Left with no other choice, Thompson resorted to doing things the old fashioned way, with near-constant blood tests and administering up to fourteen insulin shots a day.

The dLife story on Thompson promises to dish more amazing details and has a happy ending: he served his entire year in Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic or meritorious achievement in service. Says dLife creator Howard Steinberg, "I have a new hero. Plain and simply put, the story of Army Sergeant Mark Thompson is one of the most inspirational stories I have ever heard. This was not only a good story for the dLifeTV, it was an honor to present." Wow.