Diabetes Poses Risks to Foot Health
Every week, Cook County podiatrist Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, provides patients with diabetes the specialized care they need to stay healthy. Men and women over 45, especially those who are overweight or obese or who have a family history of the illness, are at risk. Do you have diabetes? If so, your foot health is on the line.
Diabetes is an illness that affects the whole body. In people with diabetes, the pancreas, which is a small endocrine gland located in the torso, does not produce enough of the hormone insulin. The metabolism is affected, and levels of sugar called glucose in the body become unregulated. Symptoms of diabetes include extreme hunger or thirst, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, blurred vision, and fatigue.
People with diabetes are at risk of complications throughout the body. Kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and blindness can occur. Complications that affect the feet are particularly common. These can include diminished circulation, numbness, and tingling. Not only are these side effects uncomfortable, but they are also dangerous. If numbness makes it hard to note minor injuries to the feet, a prompt response is unlikely. Infection can then result. But then that diminished circulation kicks in, making it harder for people with diabetes to heal than it is for others, and that minor infection can spread throughout the body. A deep wound – possibly to the bone – called a diabetic ulcer can develop. Hospitalization, amputation, disability, and even death are all possible outcomes.
Don’t let this happen to you. If you have diabetes, it is essential that you see a board-certified podiatrist like Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, at least once a year. Your foot doctor will examine your feet, ankles, and lower legs, diagnose any existing or developing issues and provide you with the care you need to remain healthy. Schedule a convenient appointment in My Chicago Foot Expert’s comfortable Ravenswood office today. Call our friendly staff at (773) 561-8100 or click here to get started today.
