This past week, Paula Deen admitted that she had diabetes. This likely made the news because she has been known for her cooking of what many people believe are unhealthy foods that could lead to diabetes. Diabetes, in the most simple of terms, can be described as a disease of high blood sugar. As a podiatrist, I see the manifestation of the disease in the feet everyday. This includes nerve damage that can be painful and / or not allow a patient to feel his or her feet. Also poor circulation in the lower extremities can occur. Finally, the patient's ability to fight infection can be compromised. We worry about all of these issues as combined they can lead to serious problems. For example, a diabetic can step on a tack or get a rock in the shoe and because of nerve damage may not feel it. This can cause a sore that can get infected and the diabetic patient's ability to heal the area is poor and antibiotics can not get to the area due to poor circulation. The infection can worsen and to prevent severe life-threatening sickness, amputation of a toe, foot, or even leg can be necessary. So prevention is key. Diabetics are encouraged to establish a relationship with a podiatrist for regular evaluation and if, after daily inspection of the feet any problems are observed, a visit to the podiatrist is imperative.
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