Where Can I Learn More?
One of the best ways to prevent injuries and amputations is to educate yourself about how to take care of your feet. Checking out this site is a great start!
Your should also talk to your doctor for a referral to a:
Podiatrist - a doctor who specializes in treating the foot, ankle, and lower leg. A podiatrist or someone in their foot-care clinic should cut your toenails if you have extremely thick nails or have neuropathy and are unable to feel if you've cut yourself.
Diabetes Educator - a certified professional who works closely with individuals to help them understand how to control their diabetes and lower the risk of complications. They teach everything from explaining the role of healthy eating and exercise to instructing people on how to monitor blood glucose and inject insulin.
Your should also talk to your doctor for a referral to a:
Podiatrist - a doctor who specializes in treating the foot, ankle, and lower leg. A podiatrist or someone in their foot-care clinic should cut your toenails if you have extremely thick nails or have neuropathy and are unable to feel if you've cut yourself.
Diabetes Educator - a certified professional who works closely with individuals to help them understand how to control their diabetes and lower the risk of complications. They teach everything from explaining the role of healthy eating and exercise to instructing people on how to monitor blood glucose and inject insulin.
There's help out there!
There are lots of resources to help you care for your feet. Specialized shoes and shoe inserts can be expensive, but help is available. Medicare Part B will pay 80% of the cost of therapeutic shoes and inserts, so don't think you can't afford it! To qualify, your doctor has to certify that the shoes are medically necessary. There are some other guidelines to follow, so check out the link below for all the information:
http://www.medicare.com/equipment-and-supplies/diabetic-shoes.html
If you don't have Medicare, call your insurance company to see what they cover. You might be surprised!
http://www.medicare.com/equipment-and-supplies/diabetic-shoes.html
If you don't have Medicare, call your insurance company to see what they cover. You might be surprised!
Here are some other great websites for more information:
The American Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/foot-complications.jsp
The Cleveland Clinic - Diabetic Foot Care
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/diabetic_foot/research.aspx
eMedicineHealth
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/diabetic_foot_care/article_em.htm
Johns Hopkins - What is a diabetes educator?
http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/diabetes/JohnsHopkinsHealthAlertsDiabetes_3110-1.html
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse - Prevent diabetes problems: keep your nervous system healthy
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/pubs/complications_nerves/index.htm
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Medicare coverage of diabetes supplies and services
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11022.pdf
National Diabetes Education Program - Take care of your feet for a lifetime
http://ndep.nih.gov/media/feet_broch_eng.pdf
Keep your feet, and keep them happy!
We're on facebook - come check us out !!!
References (in addition to above websites):
Flood, L.S. (2009). Nurse-patient interactions related to diabetes foot care. MedSurg Nursing,
18(6), 361-368.
Frykberg, R. (2002). Diabetic foot ulcers: Pathogenesis and management. American Family
Physician, 66(9), 1655-1662. Retrieved from http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/1101/p1655.html
Hall, M.A. (2008). Type 2 diabetes: The many facets of care. Home Healthcare Nurse, 26(6),
346-353.
Rivera, N. (2009). Diabetic foot ulcers. Advance for Nurse Practitioners, 17(7), 24-29. Retrieved
from http://nurse-practitioners.advanceweb.com/Article/Diabetic-Foot-Ulcers-3.aspx
Flood, L.S. (2009). Nurse-patient interactions related to diabetes foot care. MedSurg Nursing,
18(6), 361-368.
Frykberg, R. (2002). Diabetic foot ulcers: Pathogenesis and management. American Family
Physician, 66(9), 1655-1662. Retrieved from http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/1101/p1655.html
Hall, M.A. (2008). Type 2 diabetes: The many facets of care. Home Healthcare Nurse, 26(6),
346-353.
Rivera, N. (2009). Diabetic foot ulcers. Advance for Nurse Practitioners, 17(7), 24-29. Retrieved
from http://nurse-practitioners.advanceweb.com/Article/Diabetic-Foot-Ulcers-3.aspx