We often look forward to changes of season, as the flowers bloom and sun shines. However, if you have diabetes, you need to be extra careful when temperatures begin to climb dramatically. Extreme heat can have a potentially detrimental effect on your blood sugar control. Moreover, the extreme heat of the summer also has the potential to damage your medications and testing equipment. Whether your summer is around the corner or with you year-round, there are a few factors you should consider to keep your diabetes symptoms in control and to keep the blistering heat from having any undesirable effect on your health.

For most Americans, heart disease is at the top of our list of possible health concerns. A healthy diet, including proper nutrition, has remained, and continues to be, one of the easiest and most effective ways to ward off the risk of possible heart complications.

Such risks are even higher for those living with diabetes. Because of these elevated risks, diabetics are encouraged to maintain diets that are low in carbohydrates (to avoid high blood sugar and possible hypoglycemia), high in protein and high in “healthy” or “good” fats.

Sore feet, swelling, inflammation and related foot complications can be a product of various sources. If you experience any of these, it’s important to see your podiatrist or primary care physician so that s/he can properly diagnose what you’re dealing with. One of the more common diagnoses for foot swelling and discomfort is a condition known as peripheral edema.

When we think about our health and ways to sustain it, things like our heart, liver, kidneys, etc. immediately come to mind. What we often forget to account for, and thus neglect, are our feet – the very foundation that keeps us moving. We’ve grown accustomed, as a society, to getting up, slipping our feet into a pair of shoes, and going about our day for 8-12 hours, before ultimately letting our feet breathe again. If you take a moment to think about it – it’s our feet, and the shoes that cover them, that keep us up, mobile and active for the majority of our waking lives. Thus, it’s no surprise that the wellbeing and function of our feet is as important to our health (and movement) as just about anything else. That’s where podiatrists come in.

Feet come in all different shapes and sizes. When you mix in all the different foot ailments, bunions, hammertoes, edema, etc., it can be tough to find a pair of shoes that properly fit a patient, especially if they are diabetic.

This week we are going to review how to properly cast a patient using an impression foam box for custom diabetic insoles. Casting patients is incredibly important, because it allows us here at Anodyne to make the best possible inserts for your patients. Below is a step by step breakdown on how to properly take a foot impression.

Typically, the type of patient that requires a toe filler is high risk. You must take extreme care in providing and monitoring the device to ensure that it’s properly accommodating their amputation, and not causing any further foot complications. Once dispensed, it is essential that you phone the patient two to three times the first week to check on the condition of their foot/feet. It is also recommended to have a face-to-face follow-up appointment 10 to 14 days from the date the diabetic shoes and toe filler are dispensed.

This week we are going to focus on properly fitting A5512 heat moldable inserts. This process is not super difficult, but is extremely important in ensuring the best possible fit for your patient. Below is a step by step breakdown in how to do so.

Held March 28, 2017, American Diabetes Association Alert Day is a day to sound the alarm about the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in American adults by asking America to take the American Diabetes Association Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test. The free, anonymous risk test is available online or via a one-sided handout, and only takes a minute to complete. With questions such as "Do you have a family history of diabetes" and "Are you physically active," participants can learn if they’re at risk for type 2 diabetes in 60 seconds.

Knowing what the problem is, is only the beginning. Finding the solution is the key. Below is a list of some of the most common foot problems, and our suggestions for the appropriate treatment -

Athlete’s Foot:

Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus that likes warm, dark, and moist environments (like the areas between the toes or on the bottoms of the feet). Athlete’s foot can inflame the skin and cause a white, scaly rash with a red base. The athlete’s foot fungus also causes itching, burning, peeling, and sometimes a slight odor. Over-the-counter antifungal creams or sprays can be used to treat athlete’s foot. However, if these remedies do not work, you may need to see a podiatrist and ask about prescription-strength medication.