Why You Need a Podiatrist on Your Diabetic Health Care Team
Almost 10% of people in this country have diabetes. That’s why, this Diabetes Awareness Month, we’re helping you understand the two types of diabetes, risk factors for this disease and sharing tips for preventing diabetic complications, especially when it comes to your feet.
Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are chronic conditions that affect many different parts of your body. If you have been recently diagnosed with either type of diabetes, you’ll need to develop a diabetic health care team of specialists - including a podiatrist.
Diabetes Risk Factors and Complications
Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, develops because your pancreas produces insufficient or no insulin. Insulin is the hormone your cells need to turn sugar into energy. Your genes, age and family history contribute to your Type 1 diabetes risk. Certain viruses or environmental factors could also increase your risk.
With Type 2 diabetes, your body loses the ability to metabolize sugar. Some Type 2 diabetics become resistant to insulin while others can’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include genetics as well as obesity and living a sedentary lifestyle.
While Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are different conditions, they share several potential complications. Many diabetics also develop blindness, heart disease or kidney failure and then there’s the damage diabetes does to your feet.
Diabetic Foot Complications
Diabetics can end up losing their toes or feet to amputation. That’s because high blood sugar levels and poor circulation, combined with nerve damage and infections, increase their risk for non-healing diabetic foot ulcers. In fact, about 25% of people living with diabetes develop ulcers.
As many as 40% of diabetics who recover from one foot ulcer develop a second one within the year raising the risk for limb loss. Currently, 65,000 people in this country lose a limb to diabetes every year and almost half of people who face amputation die within a year of that procedure.
Adding a Podiatrist to Your Diabetic Care Team
Ulcers aren’t the only diabetic foot complications. If you’re living with diabetes, you also have to worry about neuropathy and Charcot foot. Neuropathy is nerve damage that causes tingling, numbness and pain in your hands and feet. Charcot foot is a deformity that develops when nerve damage in your foot or ankle contributes to the breakdown of your joints.
We know these diabetic foot complications sound scary, but here’s the good news: we have simple, effective tools to protect your feet. Make sure to check your feet every day, looking for any rough skin, red patches, blisters or nicks and cuts. Be sure to check between your toes and use a mirror (or ask for help) to check the backs and bottoms of your feet. If you notice a problem, come to the office right away to prevent small injuries from turning into ulcers.
Now, daily foot checks are important, but they aren’t enough on their own. As your Hamilton and Boone County podiatrist, Dr. David Sullivan also needs to do a thorough, in-office diabetic foot exam. At least once a year, if not more often. This is the best and only way to stave off complications and so you don’t lose your feet to diabetes. Are you overdue for your diabetic foot exam? Don’t worry, you still have time to get in your 2020 visit. Just reach out to the office, and request an appointment today!