Health Tip of the Month |
Diabetes patients: watch your step
For people with diabetes, foot care is extremely important.
Early detection and regular foot screenings are keys to preventing diabetes complications to the feet, particularly amputations, and can improve the quality of life for people with diabetes. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in the United States.
As many as one in four people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer in their lifetime. Foot ulcers can become infected, cause disability, and ultimately lead to limb amputation.
To help raise awareness, the APMA sponsors foot health awareness month in April. It also sponsors an ongoing campaign, "Knock Your Socks Off," to encourage regular foot checkups.
At Backus Hospital, diabetes patients can be referred to the Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center at the Backus Outpatient Care Center in Norwich, which includes a foot clinic.
Diabetes warning signs :
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Nancy Hammond, APRN, who is specially trained in wound care, said staff takes time to educate patients about foot care.
"We talk about proper shoe fitting, foot hygiene, and offer nail care at the clinic," she said. Foot care appointments are available Monday through Friday with a team that includes podiatrists, surgeons and nurses.
"People with diabetes may not have feeling or adequate circulation in their feet, so we preach prevention, prevention, prevention," Ms. Hammond said. "Diabetes affects nerves and arteries, which can lead to problems with their extremities."
Studies show amputation rates as a result of diabetes could be significantly reduced if more people would simply have their feet examined more frequently, according to the APMA.
Eric Levine, DPM, a Podiatrist on the Backus medical staff who specializes in foot surgery and diabetic foot wound care, says: "When people are newly diagnosed with diabetes, some are immediately frightened that terrible foot conditions will be in their future. This is where an ounce of prevention could not be more important. If blood sugar levels are kept under good control and if regular foot examinations continue to monitor the nerve and circulatory effect of the diabetes, many developing conditions can be managed early before dealing with more severe ulcers, infections and surgeries."