Diabetic Medicare: Do I need a prescription for Diabetic Shoes?

Diabetic footwear is a critical part of diabetic foot care and you do not need a prescription to purchase diabetic shoes. If you are covered by Medicare, however, and your doctor has mandated a rigorous foot-care regimen because you are at risk of complications, you may be eligible for partial or full reimbursement of one pair of diabetic shoes and up to 3 insoles each year. If you would like to have qualified professional evaluate your feet, and provide diabetic shoes and inserts under Medicare Part B, please call MMAR Medical at 800-622-7633 and they will be able to locate a certified provider in your area. If you are not on Medicaid, it is important to know that diabetic shoes are, in fact, a medical necessity for many, and most insurance companies follow similar reimbursement protocols. Be sure to ask your insurer how your specific coverage works.

Reimbursement requires that your doctor, typically a podiatrist, orthotist, prosthetist, or pedorthist must complete a certificate of medical necessity for the therapeutic shoes. They must also verify that you suffer from one of the following:

• History of foot ulcers or severe calluses that could lead to ulcers


• Foot nerve damage


• Poor foot circulation


• Foot deformities such as bunions or hammertoes


• Partial or complete foot amputation

The diabetic shoe provider must receive your order prior to billing Medicaid and keep that order on file for verification. Once these terms are met, you should receive appropriate compensation.

It is important to realize that diabetic shoes are part of a larger comprehensive plan for diabetic foot care. It is recommended that patients at risk for diabetic foot complications work with a foot-care specialist for routine nail and callus care. Always speak with your physician about the best solution for your specific needs.

Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition, or be taken as medical advice. For more information related to your unique situation, please speak with your personal physician.

About the Author:MMAR Medical Group Inc. is a wholesale distributor of comfort footwear offering a wide selection of diabetic shoes, custom made orthotics, as well as support braces. Please visit www.mmarmedical.com for more information.

Tips for Taking Care of Diabetic Feet

People who have diabetes know that they need to take extra care of their feet to reduce or eliminate the pain and complications often associated with the disease. Pain, numbness and tingling in the extremities, including the feet, are commonly experienced by people with diabetes. Neuropathy can cause injuries to go unnoticed, and reduced circulation to the extremities can slow healing after an injury has occurred. Here are a few precautions that may be recommended to help care for diabetic feet:

Thoroughly inspect feet for injuries each day. A loss of sensation can lead cuts, bruises, blisters or ulcers on the feet to go unnoticed in people with diabetes. Discovering and treating any such problems early can help keep them from worsening. Examining the feet daily is a good idea for anyone with diabetes.

Contact your medical professional immediately if any foot problems are observed. Discovering and treating any potential foot issues early gives you the chance to begin treatment right away. Many foot related problems can worsen or become infected if they go unnoticed.

Wear properly fitted diabetic footwear for your needs. Diabetic footwear is designed to provide optimal support and distribute the weight of the body such that foot pain is minimized. Podiatrists and certified pedorthists can help people with diabetes select appropriately fitted footwear for their needs.

Avoid going barefoot to reduce the chance of injury. Preventing cuts and other foot injuries is a precaution that can help minimize foot problems and infections in diabetics. Wearing shoes at all times is one way to help prevent unnecessary injuries that can lead to infections.

Wash and dry feet well daily. Washing the feet daily helps promote foot health. Drying the feet completely, particularly between the toes, is also very important for people who have diabetes.

Work with your doctor to determine what treatments work for you. Since the same treatments options may not work for each patient, working with a medical professional such as a podiatrist or certified pedorthist will help you determine the best way to care for your feet.

Note: This information is not intended to supplement or replace advice from a medical professional, or to diagnose or treat any condition.

About MMAR Medical Group: MMAR Medical Group Inc. is a provider of wholesale orthopedic products including diabetic footwear, custom orthotics, braces and more. Please visit www.mmarmedical.com for more information.

Sebago boat shoe- a stylish choice for Diabetics.

The Sebago Clovehitch II has a removable footbed, for easy placement of your orthotic. This functional, two-eye handsewn features premium Nubuck and full grain leather uppers with breathable Dri-Lex Hydrofil mesh panels. An anatomical EVA footbed provides comfort while the Sebago Marine Tack sole conceals an EVA midsole for comfort and slip-resistant security.Designed to keep all feet on deck, this functional, two-eye handsewn features premium Nubuck and full grain leather uppers with breathable Drilex® Hydrofil® mesh panels. An anatomical EVAfootbed provides comfort while the Sebago® Marine Tack™ sole conceals an EVA midsole forcomfort and slip-resistant security.

About MMAR Medical Group: MMAR Medical Group Inc. is a wholesale distributor of comfort footwear offering a wide selection of shoes for diabetics as well as custom made orthotics. Please visit http://www.mmarmedical.com/ for more information.

Diabetic Neuropathy: a Silent Threat

A recent press release by the Centers for Disease Control stated that the new cases of diabetes increased by 90 percent over the last 10 years. And with diabetes comes a whole new set of complications that patients must seriously think about when being proactive about their health. One such complication is Diabetic Neuropathy. According to the Centers for Disease control it affects 60 to 70 percent of the patients diagnosed with this disease.

So what does Diabetic Neuropathy mean? It means the nervous system becomes damaged over time because of high blood sugar levels in the body. This translates to loss of sensation, tingling, even constant pain in any region of the body but mostly in the feet and extremities. Damage to nerves can also mean that the body looses the ability to regulate blood pressure and therefore circulation to these important parts of the body. Also when applied to the muscles of the feet, poor circulation can lead to weak muscles and can sometimes cause a drop in the mid part of the foot. This in return can cause calluses and ulcerations because of the uneven pressure points when walking. All this can occur with a diabetic not even knowing because of loss of sensation to the feet. Amputation can then become a serious risk when this takes place.

Science has long known the advantage of the application of heat. The physiological benefits include increasing the diameter of the arteries in the body to increase blood flow which in itself has a therapeutic effect. One such product that uses controlled heat for therapeutic healing is the Vitalwrap System. Recent case studies have shown the application of the Vitalwrap system to improve circulation to occluded vessels. One such case study was done on an 86 year old African American female who had a history of Type II Diabetes and also presented with Diabetic neuropathy. Doppler exam also found the client had moderate to severe occlusive arterial disease on both the right and left foot. After only twenty minutes of application of the Vitalwrap system to the left foot improvement in circulation was seen. The left posterior tibial artery saw an improvement of blood circulation from 8.9cm/sec to 13.9cm/sec. Another such case study was done on a 75 year old Caucasian man also with a history of Diabetes Mellitus and pressure ulcer on the second digit of left foot. Improved circulation is especially vital when healing from ulcers. The blood brings the oxygen the tissue needs to restore itself to its original state. After using the Vitalwrap system the left posterior tibial artery went from 22.1cm/sec to 25cm/sec. The dorsalis pedis artery improved as well going from 22.9cm/sec to 38cm/sec. These studies have shown that the vitalwrap system is useful in assisting diabetic individuals in improving circulation and regain a better quality of life.

Note: This information is not intended to supplement or replace advice from a medical professional, or to diagnose or treat any condition.

About MMAR Medical Group: MMAR Medical Group Inc. is a supplier of orthopedic medical products including a wide selection of braces and supports. To find a quality hinged knee brace, lumbar brace or other quality brace, please visit http://www.mmarmedical.com/

What is Diabetic Footwear?

Diabetes can be a contributing factor in a range of related problems, including leg and foot pain. Used in conjunction with a foot care regimen advised by a podiatrist or certified pedorthist, diabetic footwear can help alleviate the foot pain and discomfort commonly experienced by those with diabetes. Proper foot care is essential for anyone with diabetes.

A common cause of foot problems is neuropathy, or damage to the peripheral nervous system that is known to occur in many people with diabetes. Among other symptoms, nerve damage to the feet can cause pain as well as numbness or tingling. The lack of sensitivity resulting from nerve damage in the feet can prevent a person from noticing and subsequently treating foot problems such as blisters, cuts or ulcers, leading these conditions to worsen.

Poor circulation to the feet and toes is another factor that can lead to diabetic foot pain. As narrower arteries decrease circulation, less oxygen is supplied to the lower legs, feet and toes, reducing their ability to recover from infections and other problems. In addition to neuropathy and a decline in circulation, other issues caused or exacerbated by diabetes can lead to foot pain. Among these are ulcers, calluses and infections. Diabetic footwear is designed to help alleviate the pain that is often associated with such conditions.

Diabetic shoes provide optimal support for the arch, heel and ankle while controlling the distribution of weight such that painful pressure points are avoided as much as possible. Many types of diabetic shoes also allow extra room inside so that custom orthotic inserts can be worn with them for optimal comfort.

The options and styles for diabetic shoes were in the past quite limited, but today a wide range of styles are available. People with diabetes can now find comfortable footwear for any purpose or occasion, including running shoes, casual dress shoes, sandals and loafers.

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Note: This information is not intended to supplement or replace advice from a medical professional, or to diagnose or treat any condition.

About MMAR Medical Group: MMAR Medical Group Inc. is a wholesale distributor of comfort footwear offering a wide selection of shoes for diabetics as well as custom made orthotics. Please visit www.mmarmedical.com for more information.