Lessons for People New to Type 2 Diabetes, Part 11

Another topic that every person new to type 2 diabetes should be concerned about is their feet and any sores that heal very slowly on the feet or legs. Unmanaged diabetes is the main cause of amputations although many people refuse to believe this. Why else do so many of these people have A1c's above 9.0 or higher. These people then blame their doctors and others for their problems, yet will not do what is necessary to manage their diabetes.

A proper fitting pair of shoes can make a difference in having happy or unhappy feet. You would be surprised at the number of people that have unhappy feet because of the poor fitting shoes they wear. Foot ulcers also develop when your shoes do not fit properly. Some people are able to use orthotics to properly support an area of the foot and prevent foot ulcers. Others must use mirrors or see a podiatrist on a regular basis.

Foot ulcers are sometimes hard to see if you are even slightly overweight. This is the reason for suggesting mirrors. I contacted Max and he said the source he had used was no longer available. Even the source David Mendosa had in his blog on November 19, 2008 is no longer available. Even the source I have used several times has stopped carrying them. This source is the only one I could find and now only shows one mirror.

  

 

 

Foot ulcers are not the only problem we need to be concerned about happening. The sore that A.J had was further up his leg and was much redder, but this still does not look good. This is just another reason to be examined by a podiatrist on a regular basis.

I do not like reminding people to manage their diabetes, but this is very important and not something to be ignored. Sores that will not heal often lead to amputation. Once a sore gets to the bone, then the amputation becomes a necessity and if not done soon enough will mean more amputations. This is why diabetes management needs to be high on your priority list.

Many people do not realize that neuropathy can also be the cause of sores and often foot ulcers. This is because with neuropathy, a person may be less likely to feel an ulcer start or feel the heat generated by the sore and ulcer.

Wearing thick-soled slippers or shoes around the home is another good idea. This one request I had from my doctor the month after my diagnosis. When he made the suggestion, he had asked when the last time I had dropped a glass or bowl on the floor and wasn't sure I had gotten all of the shards. I said the day before as I had dropped a bowl and said I had thought I had picked or vacuumed all of it. I showed him the bottom of my shoes, showed him the cut in the material, and said that it was rather obvious that I had missed a rather large shard. I assured him that my slippers had good soles and good sides and that my shoes were substantial. He agreed and thanked me for taking care of my feet. Even my podiatrist tells me that for a person with diabetes, I take good care of my feet.