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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – November was established as National Diabetes Awareness Month to raise awareness about diabetes, which has been ruled a major public health threat of epidemic proportions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and continues to increase substantially each year[1]. Today, there are nearly 25 million children and adults living with diabetes in America, and every hour more than 166 adults are diagnosed and approximately eight die from the disease[2].
For diabetes sufferers, National Diabetes Awareness Month should serve as a reminder of the importance of foot care. Diabetes can impair blood flow to the feet and cause nerve damage or an infection, which may cause an unavoidable amputation. Over 60% of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people with diabetes[3].
When an amputation is your only option, here are several tips that will help you adjust to this new life:
Develop a strong relationship with your healthcare team.
During recovery, your rehabilitation team will help you adjust to life after amputation. The team usually consists of a physical therapist, occupational therapist, orthopedic surgeon, podiatrist and other health professionals. It is important to develop an excellent relationship with your physical therapist and occupational therapist. They will be helping you with your mobility training following the surgery.
An occupational therapist will work with you on getting back into your old lifestyle with your new body. They will teach you daily activities of living such as dressing, safely using the bathroom, showering and kitchen safety. This valuable expertise will help you to adjust to your old routine.
It is also important to establish a working relationship with your medical doctor or podiatrist. He or she will help you to understand your wound healing, and educate you about how eating the right foods will help with your wound repair. For example, eating foods high in protein contributes to the building of new living tissue.
Maintaining a supportive healthcare team is imperative to achieving a good quality of life and independence following an amputation. They will help you learn how to safely get out of the house and stay involved in hobbies of interest. Additionally, your healthcare team can act as a great referral service for caregiver/family education. Ultimately, your rehabilitation team allows you to see the possibilities of your new life.
Know your goals.
Part of the healing process includes identifying reachable goals for yourself. For example, set a goal of attending your nephew’s wedding or joining a book club. Work towards these events in your rehabilitation process and share these with your team. Your health professionals can develop a treatment plan that aims at meeting these deadlines.
Although the process may be lengthy, knowing your objectives will give you the motivation to reach them. This will help you to begin moving in the direction of independence.
Educate yourself.
Recovering from an amputation can be a very frustrating and long process. If you’re feeling discouraged, educate yourself on what to do to help your healing. While your health professionals can give you an exorbitant amount of information, you need to work towards healing for yourself.
Diabetic wounds do not heal normally or well based on the lack of normal vasculature in the wound. It is important to understand your own body and pay close attention to how it is healing. Take all precautions when moving around and try not to bump your wound. If you decide to pursue a prosthetic leg, establishing a relationship with a prosthetist and understanding the wound healing process is imperative. Prosthetists and physical therapists work very close together and can start immediately after surgery and monitor your wound healing as you are being fit with temporary and final prosthesis.
While it is extremely important to make sure you understand the precautions you need to take with your healing wound on your residual limb, it is as imperative to learn how to monitor and protect your other remaining functional lower extremity. Being hypervigilant in protecting your lower extremities is vital.
Part of educating yourself following your amputation includes learning about your mobility options. An amputation does not mean you can’t drive. It is important to get a qualified mobility equipment specialist to help you decide which vehicle and what equipment is right for you. Do extensive research and narrow down your options. Certified driver rehabilitation specialists will also perform physical, visual and cognitive evaluations to ascertain your ability to drive. Visit driver-ed.org to get more information about finding a certified driver rehabilitation specialist.
They can work with you on in-clinic evaluations, on-road evaluations, equipment recommendations and introduce you to a good mobility equipment dealer.
For example, The Braun Corporation has over 200 dealers throughout the country that can work with you to decide which vehicle will suit your needs. The dealers can sit down with you to discuss your specific necessities and present you with options. Even though you’ve had an amputation, you will still have the ability to drive a vehicle that is fit for your needs.
Surround yourself with positive people.
Friends and family with good attitudes will help you after the amputation. Because the healing process is long, the best people you can have around you are those that will keep your spirits up as you work towards recovery. Share your worries and concerns with your friends, loved ones and close contacts. These are the individuals that can provide endless support and work with you on your rehabilitation.
Proactively manage your health.
Living with diabetes requires following a treatment plan, even after an amputation. Eating healthy foods, exercising regularly and controlling blood sugar levels can help to prevent additional diabetes complications.
Work with a registered dietician and a physical therapist to map out a diet and exercise plan. Unfortunately there are no magic exercises to get you back to perfect health immediately but it essential to work with a physical therapist to build your core strength and learn new balance strategies to bring you closer to your mobility goals. Physical therapists are considered “movement specialists” and they also can help you determine which equipment will be most appropriate for your level of functioning (crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, etc).
Whether or not you decide to get a prosthetic leg, you will have to tackle an exercise program to help you learn how to regain your balance, strength and to move about safely. Additionally, your therapy team will help to educate you on equipment options for walking, transfers and wheelchair management.
By managing your health, you can prevent “piece by piece” amputation, or the loss of your foot or leg following a previous amputation. Your healthcare team will educate you on proper wound hygiene and will help you understand diet, exercise and mobility to prevent another amputation.
Most amputations can be prevented by making a commitment to managing your diabetes. Some tips:
– Take foot injuries seriously. Contact your doctor if you have a sore or another problem that doesn’t begin to heal within a few days.
– Don’t smoke. Smoking reduces blood flow to your feet.
– Schedule regular visits with your healthcare team. Your doctor can inspect for early signs of nerve damage or poor circulation.
National Diabetes Awareness Month is an opportunity to learn how to protect you and your family from diabetes. Along with the increasing rates of diabetes among adults, juvenile diabetes is an epidemic in America. More than 15,000 children – 40 per day – are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the U.S[4].To prevent diabetes in your family, work with a nutritionist to map out a healthy food plan for your family. If you already have diabetes, ensure that you are using proper diabetes management which includes good diet and exercise routines for your entire family.
www.braunability.com
For more information visit the American Diabetes Association at http://www.diabetes.org or talk to your physician about methods to preventing diabetes as well as amputations.
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