November is Diabetes Month

November is Diabetes Month, so it's a great time for your annual comprehensive diabetic foot exam. This is a simple, painless test that every diabetic should have, every year — because the number one complication putting diabetics in the hospital is foot problems. Foot problems also are the number one reason for amputations in diabetics.

Last year, there were over 60,000 amputations in diabetic patients. 50 percent of those patients who have an amputation will die within the first year, and 85 percent will die within five years. It's been shown that an annual comprehensive diabetic foot exam can reduce the risk of complications leading to amputations by up to 85 percent. So it's important for every diabetic to have this exam once a year.