KCHS Wound Care Clinic Encourages Individuals with Diabetes to Prioritize Foot Health, Complete Daily Foot Checks
Center staff observes American Diabetes Month by educating the community on the connection between diabetes and wound care.
For most, a blister or cut on the foot is a small inconvenience that a Band-Aid™ and time will heal, but that’s not the case for the 38.5 million Americans who have diabetes. Some of the complications of diabetes, such as neuropathy and peripheral vascular diseases, make feet vulnerable to non-healing ulcers that can lead to infection and even amputation.
“Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower extremity amputations in the United States,” explains Sally Farquhar, APRN. “Every 3 minutes and 30 seconds, an American loses a limb due to diabetes. This is an alarming rate.”
Though ulcers can be anywhere on the foot, most occur on the ball of the foot or on the bottom of the toes. Once an ulcer develops, it may take weeks or even months for it to heal. Early intervention and proper treatment, though, can help prevent further complications and reduce the risk of amputation.
“Our mission this month is to remind those with diabetes that the KCHS Wound Care Clinic is here to help,” says Sally Farquhar, APRN “It’s much easier to treat a minor foot problem before it becomes serious, so don’t hesitate to seek medical attention at the first notice of a foot issue.”
To stay on top of your foot health, KCHS’s wound center urges those with diabetes to check their feet daily. Use a mirror to look for blisters, cuts or scratches on the feet and between the toes. The wound center also encourages people with diabetes to wear proper footwear, including clean socks, at all times and to trim their toenails regularly.
If you or a loved one has diabetes and discovers a non-healing wound or foot ulcer, wound care is essential. Taking care of your wound is taking care of your health. For more information, call the KCHS Wound Care Clinic at 308-832-6535. No referral is required. Or check out our website at https://kchs.org/wound-care/
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1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report website, 2022.
2Fast Facts, Data and Statistics about Diabetes. American Diabetes Association website, 2020.
3Amputation Prevention Alliance. American Diabetes Association website, 2023.
4National Diabetes Statistics Report 2020. Estimates of diabetes and its burden in the United States