Diabetes Awareness

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is the inability to manufacture or properly use insulin, and it impairs the body's ability to convert sugars, starches, and other foods into energy. The long-term effects of elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can lead to serious damage to the eyes, heart, kidney, nerves, and feet. Diabetes affects the lives of nearly 26 million people in the United States and nearly seven million don't even know they have the disease yet.

While there is no cure for diabetes, there is hope. With proper diet, exercise, medical care, and careful management at home, a person with diabetes can avoid the most serious complications and enjoy a full and active life. Today's podiatrist plays a key role in helping patients manage diabetes successfully and avoid foot-related complications.

Symptoms

Diabetes warning signs include the following:

• Skin color changes
• Swelling of the foot or ankle
• Numbness in the feet or toes
• Pain in the legs
• Open sores on the feet that are slow to heal
• Ingrown and fungal toenails
• Bleeding corns and calluses
• Dry cracks in the skin, especially around the heel

Visit Today's Podiatrist

Because diabetes is a disease affecting many parts of the body, successful management requires a team approach. Today's podiatrist is an integral part of the treatment team and has documented success in preventing amputations:

• More than 65,000 lower limbs are amputated annually due to complications from diabetes.
• After an amputation, the chance of another amputation within three to five years is as high as 50 percent.
• Including a podiatrist in your diabetes care can reduce the risk of lower limb amputation up to 85 percent and lowers the risk of hospitalization by 24 percent.

The keys to amputation prevention are early recognition and regular foot screenings performed by a podiatrist, the foot and ankle expert.

Take Action

If you have diabetes, follow these foot care tips:

• Inspect feet daily. Check your feet and toes every day for cuts, bruises, sores, or changes to the toenails, such as thickening or discoloration.
• Wear thick, soft socks. Avoid socks with seams, which could rub and cause blisters or other skin injuries.
• Exercise. Walking can keep weight down and improve circulation. Be sure to wear appropriate athletic shoes when exercising.
• Have new shoes properly measured and fitted. Foot size and shape may change over time. Shoes that fit properly are important to those with diabetes.
• Don't go barefoot. Don't go without shoes, even in your own home. The risk of cuts and infection is too great for those with diabetes.
• Never try to remove calluses, corns, or warts by yourself. Over-the-counter products can burn the skin and cause irreparable damage to the foot for people with diabetes.
• See today's podiatrist. Regular checkups by a podiatrist—at least annually—are the best way to ensure that your feet remain healthy.

YOU Can Outsmart Diabetes!

Of the more than 28 million people in the US with diabetes, about half will develop neuropathy, a loss of feeling in the lower extremities. This nerve damage means an open sore or injury on the foot may go unnoticed until it becomes infected, which can eventually lead to the need for partial or full amputation of the foot or lower leg. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputation.

However, while the risk of foot complications may be frightening, there are many ways in which YOU can help outsmart diabetes!

Take a step in the right direction by having your feet checked regularly by a podiatrist. Podiatrists are the most qualified doctors to care for your feet, based on their education, training, and experience! When you add a podiatrist to your health-care team, he or she can provide you with important information so you're able to better manage the the effects of diabetes on your feet.

Whether you've recently been diagnosed or have been fighting the disease for years, the resources below will help you to monitor your feet and prevent complications.

For Patients:

• An Overview
  What is diabetes? What is peripheral neuropathy? What is a diabetic foot ulcer?
• Diabetes and Your Feet FAQs
  Recently diagnosed with diabetes? Don’t worry—we’ve got answers to several common questions. En Español
• Your Diabetes Management Team
  Successfully managing diabetes takes a team of medical professionals. Learn about the importance of each one. En Español
• The Real Cost of Diabetes
  This infographic sheds light on the costs associated with diabetes and diabetic foot complications.
• Footwear Matters
  Dr. Comfort created this infographic to demonstrate the benefits of therapeutic footwear for diabetes patients.
• Foot Health Advice for Patients with Diabetes
  Spenco Medical put together this flyer with tips for managing foot health at home.
• Diabetes Footwear and Products
  View our podiatrist-approved products for managing and treating diabetes.
• Outsmarting Diabetes
  Take a look at this suite of videos that highlight how today's podiatrists are developing and using smart medicine to help their patients with diabetes.
• Join the Conversation
  Follow us on Facebook to hear more about topics related to diabetes and foot health year-round.

Additional information is available from the American Diabetes Association.