Type I and Type II Diabetes - What It Means To Your Feet

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)Type I diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes, appears early in life and means the body does not have the ability to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that converts glucose to energy. If glucose remains in the blood stream it can result in cell destruction. Type II diabetes is the inability of the body to produce enough insulin or break it down adequately.

Type I can strike at or before adolescence, where type II is more gradual to develop. While there are differences in the onset of diabetes, if treatment is not started early and pursued, the results can be devastating because both involve neuropathy, or the destruction of nerves in the body. You need to pay close attention to the feet, because this is a common location for nerve damage to first show signs. Early symptoms of neuropathy can include a numbing or tingling in the feet.

If you have diabetes, one of the major areas of concern is your feet. This is because the loss of feeling can allow a sore or break in the skin to go undetected, resulting in infection and possibly leading to amputation. People with diabetes need to make sure they are being evaluated by a podiatrist annually, or more frequently if needed.

Dr. Teichman can thoroughly check your feet, examine for sores, blisters, dry cracked skin, signs of athletes foot or other complications. He can prescribe a treatment program for your feet that will ward off more complicated foot problems. In conjunction to his examination and recommendations, he can educate you to precautions you can take. These include:

    •    Always wear shoes and socks to protect feet.

    •    Bathe feet daily pat dry and apply lotion.

    •    Examine feet daily and have your doctor treat minor problems of the feet and ankles. This includes corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, sores and athletes foot.

    •    Advise your doctor of sores or breaks in the skin. Seek immediate treatment.

    •    Wear closed toe and heel shoes that fit properly.

    •    Follow the diet and exercise program your doctor recommends.

With over 25 million people in the U.S., more than 8 percent of the population, the risks and complications from diabetes are staggering. If you are a person with diabetes, call Dr. Teichman’s office today at (610) 432-9593 to make sure you are scheduled for your annual exam. Never neglect your feet.

References:

http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/understanding-diabetes-symptoms
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/

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Losing Weight with Diabetes

Image via WikipediaAs the New Year’s resolutions are either going strong or dwindling out, the ever so present goal of weight loss thrives around this time of year.  Makes sense though, with all the higher fatty foods from the holidays and not exercising as much due to the colder weather.  If you have diabetes and want to lose weight, great!  You just might want to do something differently than people who jump on the next diet craze or the hottest workout. 

Having diabetes only adds problems if you’re overweight and by losing weight you can actually reduce your risk of health problems.  To do this, you don’t need a fancy diet or a crazy workout plan, you just need to eat healthy and be physically active.  You should check out the blog we wrote earlier about making your diet a rainbow, it talks about a fun way to approach your meal planning. 

As for exercising, don’t go crazy pushing yourself too hard.  If you push yourself too hard, you’re asking for an injury or complications.  Take up walking or if you’re up for it, jogging.  Make sure you ease yourself into it, though, especially if you have not been physically active for a while.  This way, you will actually enjoy being active and you won’t burn yourself out.  You should also challenge a family member or friend to get out and get active with you, that way you’ll be accountable to each other and can challenge each other.  Don’t get crazy competitive though, and risk pushing yourself or your partner to giving up.  You could also join a swimming class at the rec center, or take up playing basketball with a group of family and/or friends.  You could go walking at a park or window shopping at the mall.  Find what works for you and enjoy yourself!

For more tips on how to lose weight with diabetes or how diabetes effects your feet, contact your diabetes specialist or contact Dr. Teichman at East Penn Foot & Ankle Associates.

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