It’s American Diabetes Month. Visit Your Podiatrist
How much do you know about diabetes? Diabetes is an illness that occurs when the pancreas, the gland in your body that is responsible for the production of the hormone insulin, fails in part or in full. Insulin is critical to your body’s ability to regulate levels of glucose in the blood. When the pancreas in healthy, it produces insulin in direct response to your food intake, and blood glucose levels remain stable. When it is unhealthy, blood glucose levels fluctuate wildly, and global health issues can result, including cardiovascular disease, diminished circulation, and neuropathy, all of which pose particular danger to foot health. Other side effects of diabetes include:
- kidney disease
- eye disease and even blindness
- hearing impairment
- difficulty fending off and recovering from infection, which can lead to skin health issues
- memory issues
There are two varieties of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes used to be called Juvenile Diabetes, because it often first appears in childhood. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its pancreas. It occurs for no known reason. People with Type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin at all, and must introduce insulin into their bloodstream from an external source. 95% of adults with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. It is related to diet, weight and obesity, and it is epidemic. Type 2 diabetes is milder than Type 1, and does not require insulin for treatment, but it poses the same risks to your foot health. You can reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, and by limiting sugary drinks, alcohol, and processed foods.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you can protect your feet from infection or amputation by monitoring them for small wounds daily and by seeing a board-certified podiatrist like Dr. Stavros O. Alexopoulos for regular examination and treatment. Schedule your next appointment today. Call the friendly My Chicago Foot Expert: Stavros Alexopoulos, DPM staff at (773) 561-8100 or click here to get started.
