Speakout 7/18

Friday, July 18, 2003

It's Friday night and I'm watching Dateline. I'm watching how doctors will prescribe prescriptions for all kinds of disorders. My son is diabetic and he is taking medicine for neuropathy. I would like for a doctor to respond for this. Is this medicine really for nerve damage to the feet and legs due to diabetes neuropathy? After hearing about this medication in the news, I'm afraid for my son to continue this medication.

We looked up information on the Internet concerning neuropathy, and here's what we found: Of the 16 million Americans with diabetes, 25 percent develop foot problems related to the disease. This is primarily due to a condition called neuropathy. Diabetic Neuropathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the nerves. The most common symptoms of neuropathy include numbness and loss of feeling, usually in the feet and hands. Diabetic Neuropathy can cause insensitivity or a loss of ability to feel pain, heat, and cold. Diabetics suffering from neuropathy can develop minor cuts, scrapes, blisters, or pressure sores that they may not be aware of due to the insensitivity. If these minor injuries are left untreated, complications may result and lead to ulceration and possibly even amputation. Neuropathy can also cause deformities such as bunions, hammer toes and charcot feet (a pattern of bone and joint destruction that can lead to severe foot deformities). The most successful way to prevent diabetic neuropathy from occurring is to control the diabetes. It is important to maintain blood sugars at normal levels and maintain normal blood pressure. It is also important to: Stop smoking, limit alcohol consumption, have regular physical exams, have regular blood and urine tests, exercise regularly (according to your doctor's recommendation). It is important for diabetics to treat their feet properly to avoid any future problems. Footwear and foot orthotics play an important role in diabetic footcare. It is important for diabetics with neuropathy to take the necessary precautions to prevent injury and keep their feet healthy. If you have diabetes and are experiencing a foot problem, immediately consult with your foot doctor. You should consult your son's doctor concerning the medications he has been prescribed.

This is in regard to your July 11 article on the Essex plant. This is a good time for Sikeston to really show what they really want to do. Do they want to keep the plant, or do they just want to let it go and keep on doing what they've done in the past? This is a good time for them to really, really, really let people know what they want to do.

It would be great if some of these television channels would show on there where you could write and tell them what you think of some of their shows, especially game shows where you have to get on there to win money. Half of the shows on TV now stink and are not worth watching.

I know a guy who is a convicted felon who bought a gun at a gun auction held recently in the ar