The Villages Daily Sun

THE VILLAGES — Mary Brennan doesn’t have diabetes, so some might wonder why she attends The Villages Diabetes Support Group every month. What keeps her coming to the meetings is her husband, who does have the disease.

“It’s just a way of supporting him and a good way of enforcing guidelines,” Brennan, of the Village of Belvedere, said. “It’s very informative, and they’ve been a storehouse of knowledge.”

Brennan said if she attends the meetings with her husband, she can better understand diabetes, stay on top of the latest health care developments and find local doctors.

Often it simply helps to talk to people “in the same boat,” she said, adding that the couple try to attend all of the monthly meetings at La Hacienda Recreation Center. “If we’re in town, we’re definitely here,” she said.

Informative meetings

Education is one of the primary goals of the support group, Nancy Smith, the group’s president, said.

“We try to have a diabetic educator, a doctor or an endocrinologist at all of our meetings in order to give our people as much information as we can,” she said.

The speakers usually address topics of concern to diabetics, including monitoring blood sugar, diet, yearly eye and dental exams and more. The meetings also include tables set up for diabetic supply companies, insurance companies, doctors and others to show the group members what services are available to them in the area.

At the October meeting, the guest speaker was Dr. Johnny Wu of Tri-County Podiatry. While it might seem odd to have a podiatrist talking about diabetes, the feet are an important concern for anyone with the disease.

Diabetes can cause an increased risk for developing peripheral artery disease, Wu explained, which reduces blood flow to the legs. PAD can cause pain in the legs; leg numbness or weakness; sores on the toes, feet or legs that won’t heal; and changes in leg color.

Diabetes also can lead to diabetic neuropathy, which can cause pain or loss of feeling in the toes, feet or legs.

Both of these conditions can cause serious problems for a diabetic. With sores or cuts on the feet and legs that won’t heal, there is a serious risk of infection, which, if left untreated, can lead to amputation of the affected limb.

Similarly, if a diabetic with neuropathy cannot feel a sore or cut on the foot and it is left untreated, it could lead to infection.

“Diabetes is the leading cause of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations,” Wu told the members of the support group. “It can start out small, but then snowball into bigger problems.”

In order to avoid complications from both conditions, Wu said diabetics should check their feet every day for cuts, blisters, sores, redness or swelling. If anything is found, they should have the area looked at and treated by a doctor as soon as possible.

Diabetics also should wash and thoroughly dry their feet every day, use a good skin lotion to prevent drying and cracking, and cut their toenails straight across.

Wu warned against patients trying to treat corns or callouses themselves, and said they should see a doctor before causing a potential wound.

Diabetic education

Information such as Wu’s always is valuable to group member Richard E. Bright, of the Village of Calumet Grove. Bright has been dealing with diabetes for 25 years, and he said he always hopes to learn something at the meetings.

“It’s important to learn the new technology, and it’s important to talk to people about their experiences because everybody is different,” he said. “If you learn even a little bit, it helps.”

Often, the most valuable sources of information for Bright are the other members of the support group. He said if he experiences a change in his own condition, such as a change in his blood sugar readings, he can ask about the experiences of other diabetics in the group.

“I have someone to fall back on as to why that might be,” he said.

Smith said what sometimes is even more important than some of the factual information members receive is the actual support the group provides to those who live with diabetes every day.

“As a diabetic myself, I need the reinforcement, and I think other people do, too,” she said. “We need to hear we have to care for ourselves. It’s a lot to handle. Everybody needs help along the way.”

The support group also is active in supporting the diabetes cause, and is sponsoring a Diabetic Walk-A-Thon on Nov. 12 at The Villages Polo Club. The walk will raise money to send children to the Florida Camp for Diabetic Children and for Juvenile Diabetes Research.

The walk is open to anyone interested in participating. Call 259-8644 to register, or register in person at 9 a.m. on the day of the event.

The Villages Diabetes Support Group meets 1-3 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month in the Julio Iglesias Room at La Hacienda Recreation Center. For information or to access the 24/7 diabetic help line, contact Nancy or Jim Smith at 259-8644 or diabsupgrp@yahoo.com.

Caroline Klapper is a reporter with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9018, or caroline.klapper@thevillagesmedia.com.