Checking Feet Regularly Can Help Prevent Amputations (NAPSA)—Morethan 18 mil- lion Americans have diabetes, and nearly one-third of them don’t even know it. Left untreated, dia- betes often leads to complications, including foot infections that can lead to lower-limb amputations. In an effort to decrease the numberof lower-limb amputations occurring in the U.S., the Ameri- can Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has launched its “Knock Your Socks Off” campaign. It encourages patients to ask their doctor to examine their feet as part of their regular checkup. Since the feet are said to reflect general health, it’s important to remind your primary care physician—who sees you on a regular basis—to check for any signs of diabetes or other diseases that often show up in thefeetfirst. According to the International Diabetes Foundation, every 30 seconds a leg is lost to diabetes. The For people with diabetes, problems are often seen in thefeet. ing the feet for common symptoms Foundation also estimates that, of diabetes can help people at risk prevent serious complications.” Early detection is key to reducing amputation rates and improving the quality of life for people with diabetes. Warning signs include: most common cause of amputation Swelling; * Cold to the touch due toa worldwide, up to 70 percent ofall lower-limb amputations are related to the disease—makingdiabetes the not related to accident or injury. More than 60 percent of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations in the United States occur among people with diabetes. Yet according to an APMAsurvey, 73 percent of respondents said their primary care physician never inspects their feet. Since the feet often show the first signs of diabetes, patients are missing opportunities to detect the disease early and avoid complications. “Diabetes has a life-threatening impact,” said APMA President Harold Glickman, DPM. “Check- Redness; Numbness; lack of blood circulation; Inflammation; and/or * Lossof hair. If you notice any of these symptoms, or are just concerned about your overall foot health, make an appointment with an APMApodiatrist. For free foot health informa- tion, contact the APMA at 1-800FOOTCARE(1-800-366-8227) or visit www.apma.org on the Web. The Web site also provides answers to frequently asked questions, a checklist for diabetes and a true/false quiz about foot care. wane n eee nnn e eeeAte eee eee eee eee eee eee Note to Editors: World Diabetes Day is November 14, 2005. The message: Put Feet First—Prevent Amputations.
