09/05/2026
Sharing a post from LI by one of my hero’s and colleagues in limb salvage Laura Swoboda:
With September marking Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Awareness Month, it is a fitting time to contemplate how structured nursing observation and patient education can preserve mobility, prevent tissue loss, and save limbs.
In our recent article and visual guide published in the American Nurse Journal, we explore the pivotal role nurses play in early lower-extremity assessment and self-management education. The peer-reviewed literature reveals just how profound nursing's clinical impact can be when we build foot care into routine practice:
"Shoes Off" at Every Visit: Remind patients to remove shoes and socks at every diabetes appointment—not just when seeing a podiatrist!
Glycemic Control Protects Vessels: Stable blood sugar limits the onset and severity of peripheral neuropathy and PAD. Hyperglycemia impairs wound healing and increases infection susceptibility.
Daily Visual Checks: Encourage patients to perform daily checks using a small hand mirror or cellphone camera for hard-to-see areas on the soles. Many people enjoy using new software and technology like infrared scanners.
Footwear & Care: Recommend clean, moisture-wicking diabetic socks, checking inside shoes before putting them on, and strictly avoiding walking barefoot—even indoors.
Gentle Hygiene: Clean feet daily with mild soap, dry thoroughly (especially between toes), moisturize dry skin, and avoid soaking feet to preserve skin barrier integrity.
To make every step count for our patients this PAD Awareness Month we need to see their feet. Share this post with your clinical teams, save the infographic for your practice, and keep those "dogs", as the youth call them, protected. 🛟
We have the ability to Come to You- with our Smart ABI and referral partners who can get you in quick for intervention and recovery! ❤️🩹
