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GERIATRICS - Tool Kit for the Prevention of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

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Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with a strong increase in the risk of physical disability in mobility,instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and activities of daily living (ADL) domains. Individuals with diabetes age 60 years old or older are 2 to 3 times more likely to report an inability to walk 1/4 mile, ambulate on stairs, perform household duties, or require the use of a mobility aid when compared to aged matched persons without diabetes. Unfortunately,the frequent consequence of inadequately managed diabetic foot complications is lower extremity (LE)amputation. In fact, people with diabetes are 13 times more likely to have an amputation than people without DM. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 45% to 85% of nontraumatic LE amputations in the United States (U.S.)attributable to diabetes could have been avoided with comprehensive diabetic foot care programs.

Editor: Barbara Billek-Sawhney, PT, EdD, DPT, GCS

Learning Objectives:

  1. describe common foot limitations of structure and function associated with diabetes mellitus (DM).
  2. explain the components of a comprehensive foot assessment for the patient with diabetes mellitus.
  3. integrate the results of the physical therapy examination and evaluation to develop a physical therapy management plan.
  4. describe the features and prescription of shoes, insoles and foot orthotics for patients with diabetes mellitus.

Nancy K. Shipe

PT, DPT, OCS

Dr. Shipe is an Associate Professor at Slippery Rock University in the Graduate School of Physical Therapy, Slippery Rock, PA.This is complimented by her ongoing commitment to clinical practice at WESTARM Physical Therapy, Lower Burrell, PA. Dr. Shipe has taught and published previously on the diabetic foot.Her special interests are PT management of foot and ankle dysfunction especially related to diabetes, prescription of footwear, and manual therapy. Dr. Shipe is actively engaged in professional activities and regularly represents the Pennsylvania Chapter in the APTA House of Delegates. She was the recipient of the Pennsylvania Chapter’s Humanitarian Award in 2016 for her ongoing commitment to serve others at all levels from providing shoes for the homeless to teaching and caring for patients in the developing nations of St. Lucia and Peru. Dr. Shipe is dedicated to the advancement of our profession through her teaching students, colleagues, patients, and families; excellence in clinical practice; outreach to those in need; and support to our professional association.

Course Instructions

  1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
  2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
  3. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 


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    Monograph
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    Open to download resource. Please read the monograph and complete the post-course assessment.
    Assessment
    10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass
    10 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  7/10 points to pass Please complete the post-course assessment with a score of 70% or better. You have three attempts to obtain a passing score.
    CEU Certificate
    Up to 0.40 contact hours available  |  Certificate available
    Up to 0.40 contact hours available  |  Certificate available Please download and save certificate for future use.