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Why
Should You ONLY
use
A Certified
Pedorthist or Podiatrist
for
your Diabetic
Shoes??
If
you don't know a Pedorthist, go to
www.CPED.org
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Frequently
Asked Questions About Pedorthist
Why
should you call ACTIVE Medical Supplies?
Do
you check my feet?
What
is a Pedorthist?
Do
you have to be licensed or certified to fit Diabetic Shoes?
I
have diabetes; do my shoes need to be specially fit by a Pedorthist?
Not
every diabetic needs therapeutic shoes
I
can tell if my shoes fit, can’t I?
I
always wear the same size. Can I just get them?
Aren’t
therapeutic shoes and foot orthotics expensive? How can I
pay for them?
Am
I “AT-RISK?” for an amputation?
Are
proper fitting shoes really worth all this trouble?
Shoe
fitting is an art, NOT a science!
What
about stores that sell “custom fit” pre-fabricated orthotics, like
those advertised on TV?
Should
I wear this shoe all the time?
Can
I choose any shoe I want from your selection?
Every
field has its own specialty, and training
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A
Pedorthist fits shoes
perfectly!!!
And
That’s All
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Why
should you call ACTIVE
Medical Supplies?
To properly fit shoes requires training. We are Certified
Orthotic Fitters and Certified Pedorthists.
There are only 14 people in the WHOLE State Of
Iowa with this training. (A total of over 150 hours of Shoe
Fitting and Orthotic fitting classes.) To keep this certification we
must attend at least 11 hours per year in continuing education.
Ask
your pharmacist how much training he has in fitting shoes.
Most have watched a 15-minute video. That’s It.
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Do
you check my feet?
We
will do a complete foot evaluation, including a monofilament neuropathy
test. Most pharmacists don’t even ask to see your feet without socks!
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What
is a Pedorthist?
By strict definition, Pedorthic’s is the design, manufacture,
modification and/or fit of footwear, to prevent or help foot problems
caused by disease, defect, overuse or injury.
Basically, Pedorthist’s are highly trained professionals in the fit
and function of shoes and Orthotics. Proper footwear should fit your
feet AND also should fit your lifestyle.
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Do
you have to be licensed or certified to fit
Diabetic Shoes?
We are CERTIFIED, but the laws in Iowa (and some other states) do not
require it.
The rule in Iowa is that a Pedorthist, Podiatrist or “other qualified
individual” must fit the shoes. With no definition of
“Other Qualified” anyone can sell shoes.
There are strict laws in some states, stating fitters must be Certified
or Licensed, but not in Iowa yet. It will change.
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I
have diabetes; do
my shoes need to be specially fit by a Pedorthist?
If you have diabetes, and especially if you have any loss of sensation
in your feet, you should have your shoes fitted by a Pedorthist. A
Pedorthist will be able to measure your feet correctly and choose a shoe
for your foot type. Good, protective shoes will also have soft lining
materials and no seams at critical locations inside the shoe.
NOTE:
Not every diabetic needs therapeutic
shoes. It is ultimately the medical doctor who decides. We will
send (FAX) your Doctor a form, asking specific questions about your
feet.
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I
can tell if my
shoes fit, can’t I?
Two common misconceptions regarding shoe fit are that you can know your
shoe size and that you can feel when a shoe is right for you. Often your
shoe size may have changed, especially if you have gotten older or
heavier (like most of us). Unfortunately, many people with
diabetes have poor feeling in their feet so they are inclined to buy
shoes that are too tight and too small.
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I
always wear the
same size. Can I just get them?
In the supermarket, a quart of milk is always a quart, no matter what
brand, no matter what store you shop. You will always get 32 oz..
Shoes are different by style and brand.
Each
shoe manufacturer has it’s own design and style.
Size
7 in one brand, might be a 7½ or 8 in another.
You
cannot always go by the size you wore last.
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Aren’t
therapeutic shoes
and foot orthosis expensive? How can I pay for them?
In the late 1980s, the government recognized the increased number of
foot amputations in people with diabetes. They developed the Medicare
Therapeutic Shoe Bill. Medicare will provide protective footwear
for people with diabetes who are “at-risk” for amputations.
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Am
I “AT-RISK?”
for an amputation?
At-Risk means you have more than a 25% chance of being hospitalized with
foot problems related to Diabetes.
We believe the MOST “at risk” are the people who say, “My Feet Are
Not That Bad YET”. If you wait until YOU see a problem, it is
possibly too late for the shoes.
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25% of amputations happened to
people who did not see a problem, until it was too late to treat.
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70% would not have had the
problem if they had proper fitted footwear. |
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Are
proper fitting shoes
really worth all this trouble?
Actress/Dancer
Betty Grabel insured her legs for $250,000!! How expensive is your
foot? Your toes? Your leg? Your freedom? People with diabetes must
protect their feet at all costs. Allowing an infection to begin
can lead to severe problems for your overall long-term health.
For people with diabetes, an ounce of prevention is certainly better
than a pound of cure!
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Shoe
fitting is an art,
NOT a science!
To fit a shoe, we can measure the length and width with a measuring
device. But some areas, we have to do with Trial And Error and a
darn good guess. We have over 5,000 different styles and sizes
available.
We guarantee the fit. If you are not happy, we are not happy. If, after
wearing them for a week or two, if you feel they are not right, call us
and we will make it right. Even if you change your mind on the
color or style, we will exchange it to make you happy.
Last year, we personally fit OVER 1,000 pair of shoes. The average
pharmacist fit about 50.
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What
about stores
that sell “custom fit” pre-fabricated orthotics, like those
advertised on TV?
Walk
into one of those “good” stores and you may spend $200 or
more for custom fit orthotics. Custom fit is not
Custom made.
Custom
fit is when they try on
a few until they find one that is okay or close enough to okay.
The only warranty or guarantee the store offers is that the product
won’t break. There is no warranty or guarantee on the fit or
comfort. If you change your mind or don’t like the insert, it is
just too bad. In most cases, your money will not be refunded.
Custom
made is made from a mold
of your foot. It is exactly perfect. A Pedorthist warranty
is that the fit is perfect, and of course, the product won’t break.
We
also offer FREE re-adjustments and a FULL MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.
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Should
I wear this shoe
all the time?
We
understand you have different shoes for different occasions. You don’t
wear the same shoe going to a wedding that you do going fishing.
The diabetic shoe should be worn MOST of the time. (90% of the
time is OK)
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Can
I choose any shoe I want
from your selection?
A
Certified Pedorthist will be sure you get the most comfortable shoe for
your lifestyle. Not every shoe will work well for every person.
If you pick a shoe that is not going to be comfortable for you, you will
not want to wear it all the time. The shoe you get from us, you will
want to wear all the time.
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Every
field has its own
specialty, and training. For example,
| A nurse has certain skills in
medicine. A nurse can give you a SHOT!! But the doctor
prescribes what goes in the needle.
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| A dental hygienist is skilled in
certain aspects of dentistry, but the dentist fills your cavities
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| A butcher knows how to cut beef, but
the chef prepares it properly
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| An Optician fits your glasses, and Ophthalmologist
deals with eye diseases
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| A pharmacist knows how to dispense
medicine and has knowledge pertaining to drug interactions. |
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They do not teach “Shoe Fitting” in Pharmacy School. |
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A
Pedorthist fits
shoes
perfectly!!!
And
That’s All
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The shoe you get
from us will be the most comfortable shoe you own.
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