What is Diabetes?

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. 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. Podiatrists are highly trained physicians and surgeons focusing on the foot and ankle and should be an important part of your diabetes management team.

More than 65,000 lower limbs are amputated annually due to complications from diabetes. Including a podiatrist in your disease care can reduce the risk of lower limb amputation up to 85 percent. The keys to amputation prevention are early recognition and regular foot screenings performed by a podiatrist, the foot and ankle expert.

If you are a diabetic or having any sort of foot and ankle related issues and are seeking medicial attention, please call to schedule your appointment today!