Nagpur-based doctor recieves international award

Dr Pendsey is the first Asian doctor to receive the award for his work on comparison of diabetic and leprosy foot, which was chosen by the advisory board of international experts.

Diabetes and leprosy both cause severe neuropathy affection of nerves thus leading to Loss of Protective Sensation LOPS. This makes the feet vulnerable to repeated injuries and foot ulcerations which sometimes lead to leg amputation. Dr Pendsey in his study has demonstrated that despite poor socio-economic status of leprosy patients, leg amputation is less common than in diabetes. He attributed this difference to higher blood sugar in diabetics which facilitates putrefaction and foot decay rapidly thus requiring amputation frequently.

This was the first work of its type in the world, of comparing leprosy and diabetic foot.

Dr Pendsey was also the first Asian doctor to receive the International Amputation Prevention Award of US 2,500 from Eli Lilly-Boehringer Mannheim, USA, for his work on prevention of leg amputation in diabetic patients, in 1997.