July 2022 eNews | 3 Steps to”DeFeet” Amputations in People with Diabetes

Happy July

It’s officially summer. What better season to celebrate feet and lower extremities!

My passion for lower extremity advocacy began with my work at Stanford Hospital over 25 years ago. A kind-hearted man was admitted to the vascular unit with an infected foot ulcer and osteomyelitis. Despite days of antibiotic therapy and wound care, a partial foot amputation was required. He was devastated by this loss and so was I.

Here is the real tragedy. I am sure this amputation could have been prevented with some simple foot care education.

For this newsletter issue, we have put together a toolkit full of foot care resources that we are excited to share with you, including a FREE Webinar on 3 Steps to Save Feet.

Amputation rates are on the rise. We hope by sharing these tools and information, we reverse this trend and save limbs.

The great thing about foot care education is that all health care professionals can engage in sharing the prevention strategies outlined in our free handouts. Just think of all the unnecessary suffering we can prevent by looking at feet, providing education, and taking action on any unusual foot findings.

I think our foot care motto from Stanford Hospital says it best, “Lift the Sheets and Look at the Feets”. Let’s just start with this first step.

We are also overjoyed to announce that we are providing two Flower Scholarships that cover the cost of our Fall Virtual DiabetesEd Course. Applications are now being accepted.

Thank you in advance for your actions and advocacy on behalf of people living with diabetes.

Beverly, Bryanna, Robert, and Amanda

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Featured Articles

• FREE Feet Toolkit
• Diabetes Wellness Visits Reduce Amputations
• 3 Steps to Save Feet FREE Webinar| July 19th
• Virtual Conference Scholarships
• Question of the Week
• Rationale of Week

Upcoming FREE Webinars

• Virtual DiabetesEd Specialist Conference|Oct. 12-14th
• CDCES Exam Prep | July 12th
• BC-ADM Exam Prep | July 14
• 3 Steps to Save Feet FREE Webinar| July 19th

Free Resources

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Want to learn more about this question?
Join us for our new FREE Webinar
3 Steps to Save Feet; Assess, Screen, and Report

Airs live July 19th at 11:30 am PST (45 to 60 minutes)

All health care professionals are invited to join us to learn strategies to protect lower extremities during this FREE Webinar.

Coach Beverly will walk participants through the 3 Step Process to Save Feet; Assess, Screen and Report.   She will provide simple and clear instructions on how to assess and inspect feet, along with risk assessment and action steps. We will share free teaching tools, strategies, and documentation forms adapted from the Lower Extremity Prevention Program (LEAP) that you can immediately implement in your practice setting.

CEs: 1.0 CEs for $19 or No CEs for FREE

Topics include:

• Effective foot assessment made easy
• How to use a monofilament to assess sensation
• Using screening form to report findings

Can’t join us live?
Don’t worry, we will send you a link to the recorded version.

FREE Handouts and Resources

3 Steps to Save Feet – Assess, Screen, Report Handout.  This handout walks health care professionals through the steps involved in a 10-minute foot assessment and monofilament screening. Also includes a Screening Form to document and report findings.

Foot Care Teaching Sheet: This handout covers the important elements of foot care for people living with diabetes with simple and straightforward language.

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Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, BC-ADM, CDCES

Author, Nurse, Educator, Clinician and Innovator, Beverly has specialized in diabetes management for over twenty years. As president and founder of Diabetes Educational Services, Beverly is dedicated to optimizing diabetes care and improving the lives of those with diabetes.

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NEW! Order Monofilament (5.07) for Diabetes Foot Screening 20-Pack

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