A patient who has had type 2 diabetes for 26 years is beginning to experience peripheral neuropathy in the feet and lower leg. The nurse is providing education to the patient to prevent injury to the feet by wearing shoes or slippers when walking. Which statement made by the nurse best explains the rationale for this instruction?

A) "Wearing shoes blocks pain perception and helps you adapt to pain, which ends up protecting your feet."
B) "Shoes provide nonpharmacological pain relief to people with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy."
C) "The neurological gates open when wearing shoes, which protects your feet."
D) "If you step on something without shoes, you might not feel it; this could possibly cause injury to your foot."

Question

Amanda Mumphrey · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : D, Explanation :  Any factor that interrupts or influences normal pain reception or perception (e.g., spinal cord injury, peripheral neuropathy, or neurological disease) affects a patient's awareness of and response to pain. The patient will no longer have protective reflexes to prevent injury to the feet. Wearing shoes prevents the patient from injuring the feet because they protect the feet. Shoes do not block pain perception, and they do not help people adapt to pain. Shoes are not a form of nonpharmacological pain relief. Wearing shoes will not have an effect on opening or closing the pain gates.

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