Diabetes: Startling Statistics
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects the lives of
about 16 million people in the United States, 5.4 million of whom
are unaware that they even have the disease. Every day, 2,200 new
cases of diabetes are diagnosed, and an estimated 780,000 new cases
are identified each year. The disease is marked by the inability to
manufacture or properly use insulin, and impairs the body’s ability
to convert sugars, starches, and other foods into energy. The
long-term effects of elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) are damage
to the eyes, heart, feet, kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia may include frequent urination, excessive
thirst, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, tingling or
numbness of the feet or hands, blurred vision, fatigue, slow-to-heal
wounds, and susceptibility to certain infections. People who have
any of these symptoms and have not been tested for diabetes are
putting themselves at considerable risk and should see a physician
without delay.
Part of keeping your diabetes in control is testing your blood sugar
often. Ask your doctor how often you should test, and what your
blood sugar levels should be. Testing your blood and then treating
high blood sugar early will help you to prevent complications.
The socioeconomic costs of diabetes are enormous. The costs have
been estimated at $98 billion annually, about $44 billion of which
are direct costs from the disease with $54 billion indirectly
related. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death by disease in
the United States, and individuals with diabetes are two to four
times as likely to experience heart disease and stroke.
The growth of the disease worldwide is especially alarming. The
World Health Organization (WHO) expects the number of new diabetes
cases to double in the next 25 years from 135 million to nearly 300
million. Much of this growth will occur in developing countries
where aging, unhealthy diets, obesity, and sedentary lifestyles will
contribute to the onset of the disease.
According to a recent survey, about 86,000 lower limbs are amputated
annually due to complications from diabetes.
Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease,
accounting for about 40 percent of new cases.
Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among
adults, age 20 to 74.
While there is no cure for diabetes, there is hope. With a proper
diet, exercise, medical care, and careful management at home, a
person with diabetes can keep the most serious of the consequences
at bay and enjoy a long, full life.
How Do You Get Diabetes?
No one knows why people develop diabetes, but once diagnosed, the
disease is present for life. It is a hereditary disorder, and
certain genetic indicators are known to increase the risk of
developing diabetes. Type 1, previously known as insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus or juvenile-onset diabetes, afflicts five to ten
percent of diagnosed cases of diabetes. This type occurs most
frequently in children and adolescents and is caused by the
inability of the pancreas to produce the insulin needed for
survival. Type 2, previously called noninsulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus or adult-onset diabetes, affects the other 90-95 percent of
all diagnosed cases of diabetes, many of whom use oral medication or
injectable insulin to control the disease. The vast majority of
those people (80 percent or more) are overweight; many of them
obese, as obesity itself can cause insulin resistance.
Certain characteristics put people at a higher risk for developing
Type 2 diabetes. These include:
- A family history of the disease
- Obesity
- Prior history of developing
diabetes while pregnant
- Being over the age of 40
Being a member of one of the
following ethnic groups:
- African American
- Native American
- Latino American
- Asian American
- Pacific Islander
African Americans are 1.7 times more
likely to have diabetes than the general population, with 25 percent
of African Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 diagnosed with
the disease.
Hispanic Americans are almost twice as likely to develop type 2
diabetes, which affects 10.6 percent of that population group.
Native Americans are at a significantly increased risk for
developing diabetes, and 12.2 percent of the population suffers from
the disease. In some tribes, as many as 50 percent of its members
have diabetes.
Of all the risk factors, weight is the most important, with more
than 80 percent of diabetes sufferers classified as overweight.
Because diabetes is a systemic disease affecting many different
parts of the body, ideal case management requires a team approach.
The podiatric physician, as an integral part of the treatment team,
has documented success in the prevention of amputations. The key to
amputation prevention in diabetic patients is early recognition and
regular foot screenings, at least annually, from a podiatric
physician.
In addition to these check ups,
there are warning signs that you should be aware of so that they may
be identified and called to the attention of the family physician or
podiatrist. They include:
- Skin color changes
- Elevation in skin temperature
- Swelling of the foot or ankle
- Pain in the legs
- Open sores on the feet that are
slow to heal
- Ingrown and fungal toenails
- Bleeding corns and calluses
- Dry cracks in the skin,
especially around the heel
Wound Healing
Ulceration is a common occurrence
with the diabetic foot, and should be carefully treated and
monitored by a podiatrist to avoid amputations. Poorly fitted shoes,
or something as trivial as a stocking seam, can create a wound that
may not be felt by someone whose skin sensation is diminished. Left
unattended, such ulcers can quickly become infected and lead to more
serious consequences. Your podiatric physician knows how to treat
and prevent these wounds and can be an important factor in keeping
your feet healthy and strong. New to the science of wound healing
are remarkable products that have the appearance and handling
characteristics of human skin. These living, skin-like products are
applied to wounds that are properly prepared by the podiatric
physician. Clinical trials have shown impressive success rates.
If You Have Diabetes Already . . . DO:
- Wash feet daily.
Using mild soap and lukewarm water, wash your feet in the
mornings or before bed each evening. Dry carefully with a soft
towel, especially between the toes, and dust your feet with
talcum powder to wick away moisture. If the skin is dry, use a
good moisturizing cream daily, but avoid getting it between the
toes.
- Inspect feet and toes daily.
Check your feet every day for cuts, bruises, sores or changes to
the toenails, such as thickening or discoloration. If age or
other factors hamper self-inspection, ask someone to help you,
or use a mirror.
- Lose weight. People with
diabetes are commonly overweight, which nearly doubles the risk
of complications.
- Wear thick, soft socks.
Socks made of an acrylic blend are well suited, but avoid
mended socks or those with seams, which could rub to cause
blisters or other skin injuries.
- Stop smoking.
Tobacco can contribute to circulatory problems, which can be
especially troublesome in patients with diabetes.
- Cut toenails straight
across. Never cut into the corners, or taper, which
could trigger an ingrown toenail. Use an emery board to gently
file away sharp corners or snags. If your nails are hard to
trim, ask your podiatrist for assistance.
- Exercise. As a
means to keep weight down and improve circulation, walking is
one of the best all-around exercises for the diabetic patient.
Walking is also an excellent conditioner for your feet. Be sure
to wear appropriate athletic shoes when exercising. Ask your
podiatric physician what’s best for you.
- See us. Regular checkups
by us—at least annually—are the best way to ensure that your
feet remain healthy.
Be properly measured and fitted
every time you buy new shoes.
Shoes are of supreme importance to diabetes sufferers because poorly
fitted shoes are involved in as many as half of the problems that
lead to amputations. Because foot size and shape may change over
time, everyone should have their feet measured by an experienced
shoe fitter whenever they buy a new pair of shoes.
New shoes should be comfortable at
the time they’re purchased and should not require a "break-in"
period, though it’s a good idea to wear them for short periods of
time at first. Shoes should have leather or canvas uppers, fit both
the length and width of the foot, leave room for toes to wiggle
freely, and be cushioned and sturdy.
- Don’t go barefoot.
Not even in your own home. Barefoot walking outside is
particularly dangerous because of the possibility of cuts,
falls, and infection. When at home, wear slippers. Never go
barefoot.
- Don’t wear high heels,
sandals, and shoes with pointed toes. These types of
footwear can put undue pressure on parts of the foot and
contribute to bone and joint disorders, as well as diabetic
ulcers. In addition, open-toed shoes and sandals with straps
between the first two toes should also be avoided.
- Don’t drink in excess.
Alcohol can contribute to neuropathy (nerve damage) which is
one of the consequences of diabetes. Drinking can speed up the
damage associated with the disease, deaden more nerves, and
increase the possibility of overlooking a seemingly minor cut or
injury.
- Don’t wear anything that is
too tight around the legs. Pantyhose, panty girdles,
thigh-highs or knee-highs can constrict circulation to your legs
and feet, as can men’s dress socks if the elastic is too tight.
- Never try to remove
calluses, corns, or warts by yourself. Commercial,
over-the-counter preparations that remove warts or corns should
be avoided because they can burn the skin and cause
irreplaceable damage to the foot of a diabetic sufferer. Never
try to cut calluses with a razor blade or any other instrument
because the risk of cutting yourself is too high, and such
wounds can often lead to more serious ulcers and lacerations.
See your podiatric physician for assistance in these cases.
All-in-One Foot Care
Center, serving Laguna Hills, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo,
Lake Forest, Foothill Ranch, and Costa Mesa offers expert and
professional podiatric services. Services include complete diabetic
foot care, foot surgery, arthritic foot care, sports medicine, and a
wide range of foot care products . We have made a commitment to
provide advanced foot care to our patients. Please use our
online appointment form to book your
next appointment from the comfort of your home or your office.
Diabetes Tips From The APMA |
