Diabetic Seniors at Increased Fall Risk: MD Podiatrist

According to Dan Michaels, DPM, “Diabetes causes many complications, including peripheral neuropathy. These and other aspects of aging, diabetes, and neuropathy are well understood as contributing to gait instability and falls. If you have any of these risk factors, get evaluated for gait instability. Perhaps you have unrecognized neuropathy, or one of your medications is affecting balance. Something as innocuous as a thick callus can be the proverbial “straw” which leads to a debilitating fall. It starts with an evaluation.”

“Many experts believe this issue is best addressed with prevention, which has the capability of significantly limiting the number of these accidents. That requires recognition of the factors which increase a person’s susceptibility to a fall. These are facets of healthcare evaluated by few practitioners. Performing a gait evaluation, or different tests for stability and postural sway, even muscle strength testing, these and others provide critical information on someone’s risk for a fall,” says Dr. Michaels.