October 12, 2004

SIU Med School Offers Free Foot Screenings in November

Diabetics are invited to a free foot screening being sponsored in November by Southern Illinois University School of Medicine as part of National Diabetes Awareness month. The special screenings will run on two Mondays, November 1 and 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the SIU Clinics Building, 751 N. Rutledge Street (first floor – Room 1700) in Springfield.

Diabetic foot specialist and SIU orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. O. B. Idusuyi, assistant professor of orthopaedics, will perform the screenings. Patients will receive information on developing lifetime habits, including daily examination of feet and shoes, daily washing and foot care, wearing properly fitting shoes and socks, and a guide to seeking medical attention at the earliest sign of problems.

Diabetics having the following medical problems are eligible: ulcers on bottom of feet, numbness of feet, crooked feet, swelling or redness of one or both feet, history of previous foot surgery.

Individuals are asked to register in advance by calling Sue in SIU's Department of Surgery at 217-545-8879 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Parking is available in the adjoining parking garage off Miller Street.

The screenings are a part of a campaign by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society to educate individuals with diabetes about the importance of proper foot care. Individuals with diabetes are prone to developing foot ulcers and infections due to a condition called peripheral neuropathy, which causes a loss of sensation in the feet. They are also susceptible to poor circulation. Patients with diabetes account for more than half of the foot amputations performed each year in the United States. With proper foot care and education, a significant amount of amputations can be avoided.