The
Life Support Technologies group (LST) works with diabetics in its northeastern
U.S. hospital-based Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine units to cure
non-healing wounds and prevent amputations. Severe cold weather poses a unique
challenge to those living with diabetes; these seven tips, if followed, will
help prevent diabetics from having their feet amputated.
Diabetes
causes many changes to the body, including neuropathy (lack of feeling) of the
lower extremities. A diabetic’s feet are especially prone to damage resulting
from neuropathy. Special care must be taken to preserve the skin’s integrity. A
wound may not become apparent until it has expanded and become infected. For
diabetics, an infected wound is a real emergency because healing is compromised
as a result of the disease itself. Such cases frequently require intense wound
care treatments that may last many months. Sometimes, treatment does not heal
the wound completely or cure the infection. Amputation of the foot or part of
the leg then becomes the only option. Clearly, the best course of action is to avoid
any breakdown of the skin’s integrity; this requires diligent, daily effort.
Here
are 7 cold-weather tips for diabetics, from Edward Golembe, M.D., FACCWS, UHM, Co-Clinical
Director, Life Support Technologies group, Tarrytown, NY, and Director: Skin
Integrity Service, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY:
1.
Avoid cotton socks. Once
they get moist, they stay moist. BETTER:
socks made of wool, or of better quality synthetic materials such as those in
hiking socks, will wick moisture away from the foot and prevent the skin from
breaking down and a wound developing.
2.
Check your shoes or boots
before you put your foot inside: make sure there is nothing inside the
footwear. Turn the footwear upside-down, shake it to see if anything falls out,
and then use your hand to feel inside the footwear. You do not want anything
inside the footwear to create a wound.
3.
Avoid prolonged exposure
to cold so that you avoid frostbite.
4.
NEVER soak a diabetic foot.
Soaking breaks down the skin barrier and will lead to a wound.
5.
Completely dry your feet after
showering. This will help to preserve
your foot’s skin integrity.
6.
Moisturize your feet each night
to help prevent them from drying out and the skin cracking.
7.
Examine your feet every day,
especially the plantar (the foot’s bottom surface) for any abrasions, wounds,
skin dryness, or signs of infection. If you cannot do the examination yourself,
ask someone to help you. Avoid amputation: Promptly address any issues with
your feet so that you keep them as long as possible.
For more information about the Life
Support Technologies group, see:
Glenn
Butler, CEO
Life
Support Technologies group
580
White Plains Road
Suite
110
Tarrytown,
NY 10591
Phone: (914) 333-8412
