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PURPOSE Diabetes self-management is essential for diabetes control, yet little is known about patient preferences for sources of health information or about the extent to which information is sought directly or received passively through various media sources. The aim of this qualitative study was to identify how individuals with diabetes seek and use health care information. METHODSUsing a health information model to guide our research, we conducted 9 focus groups with 46 adults with a diagnosis of diabetes and then analyzed the transcripts and notes from these focus groups.RESULTS Five themes emerged: (1) passive receipt of health information about diabetes is an important aspect of health information behavior; (2) patients weave their own information web depending on their disease trajectory; (3) patients' personal relationships help them understand and use this information; (4) a relationship with a health care professional is needed to cope with complicated and sometimes confl icting information; and (5) health literacy makes a difference in patients' ability to understand and use information.CONCLUSIONS Patients make decisions about diabetes self-management depending on their current needs, seeking and incorporating diverse information sources not traditionally viewed as providing health information. Based on our fi ndings, we have developed a new health information model that refl ects both the nonlinear nature of health information-seeking behavior and the interplay of both active information seeking and passive receipt of information.

This study of persons without severe foot deformity does not provide evidence to support widespread dispensing of therapeutic shoes and inserts to diabetic patients with a history of foot ulcer. Study shoes and custom cork or preformed polyurethane inserts conferred no significant ulcer reduction compared with control footwear. This study suggests that careful attention to foot care by health care professionals may be more important than therapeutic footwear but does not negate the possibility that special footwear is beneficial in persons with diabetes who do not receive such close attention to foot care by their health care providers or in individuals with severe foot deformities.

Promoting weight-bearing activity did not lead to significant increases in foot ulcers. Weight-bearing activity can be considered following adequate assessment and counseling of patients with DM+PN.

OBJECTIVE -To describe the incidence of falls, risk factors for falls, and the frequency of fall-related fractures in a cohort of individuals with diabetes and a prior foot ulcer. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-A total of 400 individuals with diabetes and a prior foot ulcer were recruited from two western Washington State health care organizations and followed prospectively for 2 years. Diabetes, demographic, and health information was collected at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years. Data on falls were collected at baseline, 4 weeks, and every 17 weeks thereafter. Medical records were abstracted to confirm fall-related morbidity.RESULTS -The average age of the study population was 62 years, with 77% male and 23% female. Approximately 32% had fixed foot deformities, 58% had insensate feet, and 76% had comorbid conditions. Of the participants, 252 (64%) reported at least one fall during the 2-year study period. The overall incidence of falls in this cohort was 1.25 falls/person-year (95% CI 1.17-1.33). For the 164 participants (41%) who reported two or more falls, a BMI Ն30 kg/m 2 , the presence of one or more comorbid conditions, and insensate feet increased the risk. Two or more falls of any type were associated with a higher fracture risk. Although women were not at significantly greater risk for falls than men, their fracture incidence was 3.6 times higher.CONCLUSIONS -Falls are very common in individuals with diabetes and prior foot ulcers. A small percentage of falls resulted in fractures. The risk of a fall-related fracture was significantly higher in women than in men. Increased attention to falls and fall prevention is indicated for diabetes care providers.

The group (i) highly valued genuine intent and relationship building as elements to combat tokenism; (ii) noted that early genuine attempts at engagement may superficially resemble tokenism as researchers build enduring and trusting relationships with patient/community partners and (iii) emphasized the importance of seeking and utilizing patient experiences throughout research. These observations may contribute to more formal methods to help researchers (and reviewers) evaluate where engagement processes sit along the 'genuine-token' continuum.

Objective To determine the effects of weight-bearing (WB) versus nonweight-bearing (NWB) exercise for persons with diabetes mellitus (DM) and peripheral neuropathy (PN). Design Randomized controlled trial with evaluations at baseline and after intervention. Setting University-based physical therapy research clinic. Participants Participants with DM and PN (N=29) (mean age ± SD, 64.5±12.5y; mean body mass index [kg/m2] ± SD, 35.5±7.3) were randomly assigned to WB (n=15) and NWB (n=14) exercise groups. All participants (100%) completed the intervention and follow-up evaluations. Interventions Group-specific progressive balance, flexibility, strengthening, and aerobic exercise conducted sitting or lying (NWB) or standing and walking (WB) occurred 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Main Outcome Measures Measures included the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and daily step counts. Secondary outcome measures represented domains across the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Results The WB group showed greater gains than the NWB group over time on the 6MWD and average daily step count (P<.05). The mean and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between-group difference over time was 29m (95% CI, 6–51) for the 6MWD and 1178 (95% CI, 150–2205) steps for the average daily step count. The NWB group showed greater improvements than the WB group over time in hemoglobin A1c values (P<.05). Conclusions The results of this study indicate the ability of this population with chronic disease to increase 6MWD and daily step count with a WB exercise program compared with an NWB exercise program.

The following article1 is the report of an American Diabetes Association task force that summarizes the recent literature on tests and measures to identify people at risk for foot ulceration and to recommend what should be included in the comprehensive foot exam for adult patients with diabetes. Although this information would be timely and pertinent for physical therapists at any time, its content is particularly complementary to the content of PTJ's Special Issue on Diabetes. This article has been reprinted with permission of the American Diabetes Association from Boulton AJM, Armstrong DG, Albert SF, et al. Comprehensive foot examination and risk assessment: a report of the Task Force of the Foot Care Interest Group of the American Diabetes Association, with endorsement by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Diabetes Care. 2008;31:1679-1685. DOI: 10.2337/dc08-9021. Available online at: http://care.diabetesjournals.org. Copyright ©2008 American Diabetes Association. From Diabetes Care®, Vol 31, 2008; 1679-1685. Reprinted with permission from The American Diabetes Association. Reference 1 Boulton AJM , ArmstrongDG, AlbertSF, . Comprehensive foot examination and risk assessment: a report of the Task Force of the Foot Care Interest Group of the American Diabetes Association, with endorsement by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Diabetes Care. 2008;31:1679–1685.