The Diabetic
FootTreatment
& PreventionImproving people’s lives from first step to last
in shoes that look as good as they feel!
NYC212.477.2300LittLe Neck718.357.5800
Eneslow has been helpinig individuals with diabetes with their footwear
& related devices since 1926Foot Care & DiabetesProper foot care is especially critical for diabetics because they are prone to foot problems such as:• Lossoffeelingintheirfeet• Changesintheshapeoftheirfeet• Footulcersorsoresthatdonotheal• Amputationscausedbytheaboveconditions
Simpledailyfootcarecanpreventseriousproblems.Accord-ingtotheNationalInstituteofHealth,thefollowingaresimpleeverydaystepsthatwillhelppreventseriousfootcomplicationsfrom diabetes:1. Take care of your diabetes2. Checkyourfeeteveryday3. Washyourfeeteveryday4. Keeptheskinsoftandsmooth5. Trimyourtoenailseachweekorwhenneeded6. Wearshoesandsocksatalltimes7. Protectyourfeetfromhotandcold8. Keepthebloodflowingtoyourfeet9. Bemoreactive10.Communicatewithyourdoctor
Eneslow The Foot Comfort Center
Email: [email protected] www.eneslow.com
254-61 Horace Harding Expwy
(exit 32 off L.I.E.) Little Neck, NY 11362
718.357.5800
470 Park Avenue South (@ 32nd street)
New York, NY 10016 212.477.2300
DIABETESDiabetes is a serious disease that can develop fromthe lackof insulinproduction in thebodyordue to theinability of the body’s insulin to perform its normal everydayfunctions.Insulinisasubstanceproducedfromthepancreasglandthathelpsprocessthefoodweeatandturnitintoenergy.Diabetesaffectsapproximately20millionAmericansandisclassifiedinto2differenttypes:Type1andType2.Type1isusuallyassociatedwithjuvenilediabetesandisoftenlinkedthroughheredity.Type2,commonlyreferredtoasadult onset diabetes, is characterizedby elevatedbloodsugars,oftenbypeoplewhoareoverweightandhavenotadequatelyattendedtotheirdietandexercise.There are often many complications associated withdiabetes. Diabetes disrupts the numerous systems,affectingmanyareasofthebodysuchastheheart,eyes,kidneys, legs,andfeet.Peoplewithdiabetesshouldpayspecialattentiontotheirfeet.
Proper Shoe Fit Thewidestpartofthefootshouldbeinthewidestpartofoftheshoe.Thereshouldbeatleast3/8”ofspacebetweenthelongesttoeandthetheendoftheshoe.The shape (last) of the shoe shouldmatch the shapeofthefoot.
DIABETESEneslow has been helpinig individuals
with diabetes with their footwear & related devices since 1926
Improving the quality of people’s lives from first step to last in shoes that looks as good as they feel.Improving the quality of people’s lives from first step to last in shoes that looks as good as they feel.POOR CIRCULATION
Diabetes often leads to peripheral vascular disease which inhibits a person’s blood circulation.
Withthiscondition,thereisanarrowingofthearteriesthat frequently leads to significantly decreased circulation in thelowerpartofthelegsandthefeet.Poorcirculationcontributestodiabetic footproblemsbyreducingtheamountofoxygenandnutritionsuppliedtotheskinandothertissue,thereforecausinginjuriestohealpoorly. Poorcirculationcanalsoleadtoswellinganddrynessofthefoot.Preventingfootcomplica-tions is more critical for the diabetic patient since poor circula-tionimpairsthehealingprocess,andcanleadtoulcers,infec-tion,andotherseriousfootconditions.
If you have poor circulation:
• DONOTcrossyourlegsforlongperiodsoftime.
• DONOTweartightsocks,elastic,orrubberbands,orgartersaroundyourlegs.
• DONOTwear restrictive footwearor footproducts. Footproducts that can cut off circulation to the feet, such asproductswithelastic,shouldnotbewornbydiabetics.
• DONOTsmoke.Smokingreducesbloodflowtoyourfeet.theareasofthefootmostsusceptibletopain,mostnotablytheball-of-the-foot.
DIABETIC FOOT CONDITIONS & TREATMENT
NeuropathyOfthetwentymillionAmericanswithdiabetes,25%willdevelopfootproblemsrelatedtothedisease.Diabeticfootconditionsdevelopfromacombinationofcausesincludingpoorcirculationandneuropathy.DiabeticNeuropathycancause insensitivity or a loss of ability to feel pain, heat,andcold.Diabeticssufferingfromneuropathycandevelopcuts,scrapes,blisters,orpressuresoresthattheymaynotbe aware of due to insensitivity. If these minor injuriesare left untreated, complicationsmay result and lead toulcerationandpossiblyevenamputation.NeuropathycanalsocausedeformitiessuchasBunions,HammerToes,andCharcotFeet.
It is very important for diabetics to take the necessaryprecautionstopreventallfootrelatedinjuries.Duetotheconsequencesofneuropathy,dailyobservationofthefeetis critical. When a diabetic patient takes the necessarypreventative footcare measures, it reduces the risks ofseriousfootconditions.
Treatment and PreventionFootwearandorthoticsplayanimportantroleindiabeticfootcare. Orthotics designedwith Plastazote“ foam, the#1materialforprotectingtheinsensitivediabeticfoot,areusually recommended. Plastazote isamaterialdesignedto accommodate pressure “hot spots” by conforming toheatandpressure.Bycustomizingtothefoot,Plastazoteprovides the comfort and protection needed in diabeticfootcare. Diabetic Footwear should also provide thefollowingprotectivebenefits:
• High,widetoebox(highandwidespaceinthetoearea)
• Removableinsolesforfittingflexibilityandtheoptiontoinsertorthoticsifnecessary.
• RockerSoles:Thesesolesaredesignedtoreducepressureintheareasofthefootmostsusceptibletopain,mostnotablytheball-of-the-foot.
• FirmHeelCountersforsupportandstability.
If youare adiabetic, you shouldbeparticularly alert toanyproblemsyoumaybehavingwithyourfeet.Itisveryimportantfordiabeticswithneuropathytotakenecessaryprecautionstopreventinjuryandkeeptheirfeethealthy.Ifyouhavediabetesandareexperiencingafootproblem,immediatelyconsultwithyourfootdoctor.
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