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.
