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Foot Care > Diabetics and Shoes
Q. I am a diabetic and I heard I can get a free
pair of shoes from Medicare. Is this true and what do I need to do to
get these shoes?
A. As a diabetic patient you may be at risk for serious
complications regarding the health of your feet.
Medicare recognizes the
importance of preventative foot care and has therefore provided coverage
for at risk patients for one pair of high quality shoes and 3 pairs of
removable protective shoe inserts each calendar year. If you qualify for
this benefit Medicare will pay 80% of the cost for these important products
and your supplemental insurance may pay the other 20% resulting in no
cost to you.
I have recently added this valuable service to my practice
so that I may be able to provide more comprehensive foot care to my patients.
Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet, Even a small cut could have serious
consequences. Diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet.
Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or
resist infection, Because of these problems, you might not nonce a pebble in your shoe
and so you could develop a blister, than a sore, then a stubborn infection that might cause
amputation of your foot or leg.
To avoid serious foot problems that could result in losing a toe, foot, or leg be sure to
follow these guidelines:
- Inspect your feet daily. Check for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling or nail
problems. Use a magnifying hand mirror to look at the bottom of you feet. Call
your doctor if you notice anything.
- Wash your feet in lukewarm (not hot) water. Keep your feet clean by washing
them daily. But only use lukewarm water.
- Be gentle when bathing your feet. Wash them using a soft washcloth or sponge.
Dry by blotting or patting and make sure to carefully dry between the toes.
- Moisturize your feet, but not between your toes, Use moisturizer daily to keep dry
skin from itching or cracking. Don't moisturize between the toes, this could
encourage a fungal infection
- Cut nails carefully and straight across. Also, file the edges, Don't cut them too
short, since this could lead to ingrown toenails.
- Never trim corns or calluses. No do it yourself surgery, let your doctor do the job.
- Wear clean, dry socks and change them daily.
- Avoid the wrong type of socks. Avoid tight elastic bands, they reduce circulation.
Don't wear thick or bulky socks, they can fit poorly and irritate the skin.
- Wear socks to bed. If your feet get cold at night, wear socks. NEVER use a
heating pad or hot water bottle.
- Shake out your shoes and inspect the inside before wearing them. Remember you
may not feel a pebble, so always shake out your shoes before putting them on.
- Keep your feet warm and dry. Don't get your feet wet in snow or rain. Wear
warm socks and shoes in the winter.
- Take care of your diabetes. Keep your blood sugar levels under control.
- Don't smoke, Smoking restricts blood flow to your feet.
- Get periodic foot exams. See your podiatrist on a regular basis for an examination
to help prevent the foot complications of diabetes.
Medicare does pay for 1 pair of extra-depth shoes and 3 pairs of multi-density inserts per
year if you are diabetic. An authorization from your Physician who is treating your
diabetes must be obtained.
Please contact my office and schedule
an appointment so that I may evaluate your eligibility for this important
benefit. My staff and I will be pleased to assist you.
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