Podiatrists Kick Off Diabetes
Awareness Month with
Holiday Sock Drive for the Needy
The California Podiatric Medical
Association’s (CPMA) Holiday Sock Drive aims to put NEW socks on the feet of men, women, and
children experiencing homelessness and/or in need.
Socks are the #1 clothing item
requested by homeless shelters for those experiencing homelessness, and they
are the least donated. Clean, dry socks play an essential role in helping
protect feet from getting cold and wet, developing blisters, and developing
fungal growth or bacterial infections, which can lead to far worse medical
consequences. One of the main reasons someone experiencing homelessness goes to
the emergency room is because of a foot ailment, and one of the best, simplest,
and most cost-effective ways to prevent these expensive ER visits is to wear
clean, dry socks daily. This is especially true for those with Diabetes.
Diabetes is a systemic disease whose many adverse effects include nerve damage and restricted blood flow, especially in the outer extremities like feet, making them susceptible to loss of feeling and, therefore, more prone to injury and wounds that take significantly longer to heal, if at all. Simple things like daily foot inspections, clean, dry socks, properly fitting shoes, and seeing a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (aka podiatrist) for annual foot exams can go a long way in helping to prevent the loss of mobility, amputations, or premature death.