A REAL-WORLD APPROACH TO DIABETIC FOOT CARE

Sponsored by an educational grant from Dr. Comfort

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FROM THE EDITOR: KEEPING IT REAL

We hear a lot about evidence-based medicine these days. And there are certainly a number of benefits to being able to base treatment decisions on data from high-level published studies. But practitioners who treat diabetic patients know all too well that healthcare in the real world is different from healthcare in the literature.

Jordana Bieze Foster, Editor

Socks: Getting in shape with new technologies

Socks are often an afterthought for patients with diabetes, but they shouldn’t be. Advances in materials science and new twists on old favorites mean that modern socks conform to feet without the bunching, chafing, slipping, and irritation of the past. Some even promote healing.

By Shalmali Pal

Insoles: An exercise in compromise

Diabetic feet need pampering and protection from microtrauma, but they also need stability and support. A diabetic insole, representing the ultimate middle ground between sock and shoe, should offer the best of all worlds: cushioning, structure, shock absorption, and durability.

By Shalmali Pal

Sheer Lace Stockings
Compression stockings: One size definitely does not fit all

Proper selection and sizing of compression hosiery can be confusing, but both are essential for control of edema and management of more serious vascular conditions in patients with diabetes. And then there’s the even more challenging issue of patient compliance.

By Shalmali Pal

The Therapeutic Shoe Bill: Making sure the benefits add up

Taking full advantage of the TSB means jumping through more than a few bureaucratic hoops, as mandated by the federal government. But it also requires that lower extremity experts build better working relationships with each other and with their diabetic patients.

By Shalmali Pal

Footwear: Advantages of a whole-patient approach

As important as it is to fit the foot properly within the shoe, that’s only one part of the process. Patients’ comorbidities, personality, and fashion sense all determine the extent to which a pair of footwear can maximize a diabetic patient’s outcomes and minimize complications.

By Shalmali Pal