Eight percent of the U.S. population has diabetes and 500,000 just in Michigan. Many people go undiagnosed. Many people who have diabetes have complications that lead to amputations. The MPMA wants to educate you on how amputations can be prevented with footcare.
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✦ Footcare plans should include annual checkups with a podiatrist and daily foot inspections.
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✦ Early diagnosis can help prevent severe nerve damage. For patients at risk for developing diabetes, some foot conditions can be an early warning sign.
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✦ Foot conditions that need treatment include:
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• Calluses
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• Blisters
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• Or dry and cracked skin anywhere on the foot can imply poor circulation or foot health, especially if you don’t feel them or they take two or more weeks to heal
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• Look for thin, fragile, shiny or hairless skin, which can denote decreased circulation to the foot.
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• Check shoes for torn linings or foreign objects
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• Shoe irritatation you when you walk, you might have nerve damage
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• Other warning signs include foot deformities like hammertoes, a past history of foot ulcers, or lower leg or thigh pain when walking
Elect to Save Your Feet
