Kent City Councilman Thomas continues fight against diabetes

Kent City Councilman Les Thomas had another one and a half inches removed from his left leg last week as he continues his fight against diabetes.

Thomas, 72, had just returned Sept. 4 to his first City Council meeting in about four months after a leg amputation when he found out a couple days later more surgery would be needed.

Although Thomas initially said the amputation had been caused by an infected cut, two of his children contacted the Kent Reporter to clarify that their father has diabetes and complications from the disease led doctors to amputate the left leg about 3 inches below the knee. He has type 2 diabetes, as his blood sugar levels are too high.

“It’s complications from diabetes,” said son Lee Thomas, of Maple Valley and a Kent attorney, during a phone interview. “It’s pretty devastating physically and psychologically. It’s a lot for him to handle. It’s a lot for anybody to handle.”

Thomas, in his 15th year on the council, said on Tuesday he was diagnosed with late-onset diabetes in 2010. He has had three surgeries this year as doctors try to stop the infection from spreading.

“The whole leg might have to come off,” said daughter Joy Thomas, if the most recent surgery doesn’t work.

Thomas said he takes insulin shots five times a day in efforts to control his blood sugar.

“It’s a lot of needles,” Thomas said. “But the needles are tiny so I don’t really feel it. It’s more a matter of remembering to do it.”

When asked about advice for others who are fighting diabetes, Thomas said there are two key steps.

“The best thing is to eat properly and exercise,” he said.

About 30 million people have diabetes, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Georgia.

In 2015, an estimated 1.5 million new cases of diabetes (6.7 per 1,000 persons) were diagnosed among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than half of these new cases were among adults ages 45 to 64 years.

Reduced blood flow can slow wound healing, according to healthline.com about diabetes. It can also make your body less effective at fighting infection. As a result, wounds may not heal. Tissue damage or death (gangrene) of tissue may occur, and any existing infection may spread to the bone. If the infection cannot be stopped or the damage is irreparable, amputation may be necessary. The most common amputations in people with diabetes are the toes, feet and lower legs.

In 2010, 73,000 American adults who have diabetes and are older than 20 had amputations, according to healthline.com. Better diabetes management and foot care has caused lower limb amputations to be reduced by half over the last 20 years.

Thomas attended Tuesday’s council meeting. Council President Bill Boyce said he didn’t anticipate Thomas to return so soon after his recent surgery.

“I expect in two to three weeks he will be back,” Boyce said last week. “I know he wants to be there for the mayor’s budget report on Sept. 25.”

Despite the most recent surgery, Thomas said he, “feels good.” He doesn’t plan to attend committee meetings or workshops yet, but hopes to return to those soon as he regains strength.

Thomas returned home Saturday after last week’s surgery. He said he no longer is staying at rehab centers because he knows the occupational and physical therapy steps he needs to do.

Thomas received a standing ovation from his fellow council members when he returned for the Sept. 4 meeting after a four-month absence. Thomas missed nine meetings. Boyce and Mayor Dana Ralph each said it was like having the family back together again.

“I want to publicly thank you guys – not just all of you here but those watching on TV – for the amount of prayers and thoughts that you sent my way to me and my wife because we both had surgeries this summer,” said Thomas, who sat in a wheelchair at the meeting. “It’s been a difficult summer, but as Bill said, we are kind of plowing through it.”

Boyce said Thomas continued to handle the additional surgery in stride and still had his sense of humor.

“We hope his recovery goes well,” Boyce said.