Does Someone in Your Household Have Diabetes?

An estimated 18.2 million Americans have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. The effects of this disease can cause severe foot problems. November is American Diabetes Month – a good time to remind family members with this disease that good foot care must be a part of their overall treatment regimen. Circulatory and nerve damage problems caused by diabetes can leave patients with serious foot ulcers and other conditions that, if left untreated, can result in amputation. In fact, about 82,000 lower-limb amputations are performed each year on people with diabetes.

Help keep your family members on their feet! Anyone with diabetes should inspect their feet daily and have them checked by a foot and ankle surgeon at least once a year; more often if poor blood flow to the foot or nerve damage is present.
>Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines.
Diabetic Foot Problems and Treatments

Australian Prescriber: "The management of type 2 diabetes"
SYNOPSIS
Control of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes involves a stepped approach to therapy ideally by a multidisciplinary team. Therapy begins with education, then a reduction in dietary fat and an increase in exercise. If control remains inadequate, the usual next steps are the addition of metformin, and later a sulfonylurea. In those who do not respond to maximal doses of these drugs, insulin therapy may be needed. Initially, intermediate-acting insulin injected at bedtime can be added. This can be increased to twice daily insulin without tablets if control is not adequate. In addition to the control of blood glucose, it is imperative to manage hypertension and dyslipidaemia and to screen for macro- and microvascular complications.