"Your feet are a mirror of your health??”especially when you have or are at risk for diabetes," said Dr. Michael King, APMA president. "The 'Knock Your Socks Off' campaign encourages people with diabetes to get an annual foot examination by today's podiatrist, particularly if you are part of the Hispanic community. Getting a foot exam, along with maintaining a good diet and proper exercise, is vital to staying in control of diabetes and living a healthy life."

According to the CDC, 60 to 70 percent of all people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of diabetic nerve damage, which often includes impaired sensation or pain in the feet. Severe forms of nerve damage can lead to diabetic foot ulcers and lower-extremity amputations. However, a Thomson Reuters Healthcare study showed the U.S. health-care system could save $3.5 billion annually and dramatically reduce hospitalizations and amputation if every American at risk for developing a diabetic foot ulcer visited a podiatrist once, before complications set in.

To help spread the word about important connections between foot health and diabetes, APMA will take to Twitter for a "Tweet Your Socks Off" event on World Diabetes Day, November 14. Users can follow APMAtweets and ask questions about foot care and diabetes in English and Spanish, and have questions answered by a podiatrist. 

SOURCE American Podiatric Medical Association