On Thursday, Nov. 20, Beauregard Memorial Hospital will host a mini-seminar or “Brown Bag Lesson” on The Diabetic Foot.  The lesson will be held at noon in the conference room at BMH, and will be facilitated by Dr. Oghale Eleyae, DPM of the Foot and Ankle Medical Clinic, located at 325 West Eighth Street, in DeRidder.

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not make, or does not properly use insulin, the hormone that helps the body use the energy from sugar, starches and other foods. The result is that the body doesn’t get the energy it needs, and unmetabolized sugar (glucose), builds up in the blood causing damage to the body and its systems. A variety of complications may be associated with diabetes. Diabetes disrupts the vascular system, affecting many areas of the body such as the eyes, kidneys, legs and feet.

People with diabetes are advised to pay special attention to their feet. Of the sixteen million Americans with diabetes, 25 percent will develop foot problems related to the disease.

Diabetic foot conditions such as bunions, hammer toes and Charcot feet develop from a combination of causes including poor circulation and neuropathy (nerve damage).  Diabetic neuropathy can cause insensitivity, or a loss of the ability to feel pain, heat, and cold. Diabetics suffering from neuropathy sometimes develop minor cuts, scrapes, blisters, or pressure sores of which they may not be aware. If these minor injuries are left untreated, they can become infected. If blood glucose is high, the extra glucose feeds the germs and often the infection gets worse.

Since diabetes often leads to peripheral vascular disease that inhibits a person’s blood circulation to the lower part of the legs and the feet, preventing infection is even more critical. Poor circulation contributes to diabetic foot problems by reducing the amount of oxygen supplied to the wound and causing the injuries to heal poorly. When the healing process is impaired, ulcers and other serious foot conditions can develop. Sometimes an infection that is slow to heal becomes a bad infection that never heals; causing an even more serious complication such as gangrene.

It is  important for diabetics to take the necessary precautions to prevent all foot related injuries; check feet daily; wear socks and shoes at all times; keep the skin soft and smooth; protect feet from hot and cold; and if a foot problem develops, immediately consult a doctor.  When a diabetic patient takes the necessary preventative foot care measures, he or she reduces the risk of serious foot conditions.

To learn more about The Diabetic Foot, Beauregard Memorial Hospital invites the community to attend the “brown bag lesson” Thursday in the conference room. Attendees bring a “brown bag” lunch, and BMH will provide a drink, a dessert and a “lesson” on diabetic foot conditions.  Call 462-7418 to pre-register. Admission is free.