| WHAT
IS DIABETES? |
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Diabetes is a
serious disease that can develop from the lack of insulin production in
the body or due to the inability of the body’s insulin to perform its
normal everyday functions. Insulin is a substance produced from the
pancreas gland that helps process the food we eat and turn it into energy.
Technically, this
disease is known as "diabetes mellitus"- diabetes from the Greek
for siphon, to describe the excessive thirst and urination characteristic
of this condition, and mellitus from the Latin for honey. People with
diabetes have either Type I & Type 2. Type I is usually associated
with juvenile diabetes and is often linked through heredity. Type 2,
commonly referred to as adult onset diabetes, is characterized by elevated
blood sugars, often by people who are overweight or have not attended to
their diet properly.
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| HOW
MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIABETES? |
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Nearly 16 million
people in the United States-nearly 1 in 17 people have diabetes. About
2,200 new cases are diagnosed each day.
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| WHAT
CAUSES DIABETES AND CAN IT BE CURED? |
| Scientists
don't know exactly what causes diabetes, but it appears to result from a
combination of genetics and environmental factors, including viral
infections, poor diet, and sedentary lifestyle. Currently, diabetes can't
be cured, but the good news is that the disease can be managed. People
with diabetes can live fulfilling, healthy lives. |
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| WHAT
DOES IT DO TO THE BODY, AND WHY? |
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Everyone with
diabetes has one thing in common: Little or no ability to move sugar or
glucose out of the blood into the cells, where it becomes the body's
primary fuel. Everyone has glucose in their blood, whether or not they
have diabetes. This glucose comes from food. When we eat, the digestive
process breaks down food into glucose, which is absorbed into the blood in
the small intestine.
People who don't have diabetes rely on insulin, a
hormone made in the pancreas, to move glucose from the blood into the
body's billions of cells. People who have diabetes either don't produce
insulin or can't efficiently use the insulin they produce. Without
insulin, they can't move glucose into their cells. Glucose accumulates in
the blood - a condition called hyperglycemia ("hyper" = too
much, "glycemia" = glucose in the blood) - and over time, can
cause very serious health problems.
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| WHAT
IS NEUROPATHY? IS IT DANGEROUS? |
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Neuropathy is a loss
of sensation due to nerve damage caused by prolonged high blood sugar,
often occurring in the feet. Diabetics suffering from neuropathy can
develop minor cuts, scrapes, blisters, or pressure sores that they may not
be aware of due to the insensitivity. If these minor injuries are left
untreated, complications may result and lead to ulceration and possibly
even amputation. Neuropathy can also cause deformities such as Bunions,
Hammer Toes and Charcot Feet.
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| DO
ALL DIABETICS HAVE NEUROPATHY? |
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Of the sixteen
million Americans with diabetes, 25% will develop foot problems related to
the disease. Diabetic foot conditions develop from a combination of causes
including poor circulation and neuropathy.
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| WHAT
ABOUT POOR CIRCULATION AND MY FEET? |
| Diabetes often leads
to peripheral vascular disease which inhibits a person's blood
circulation. Poor circulation contributes to diabetic foot problems by
reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrition supplied to the skin and other
tissue, therefore causing injuries to heal poorly. Poor circulation can
also lead to swelling and dryness of the foot. Preventing foot
complications is more critical for the diabetic patient since poor
circulation impairs the healing process, and can lead to ulcers,
infection, and other serious foot conditions. |
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| TREATMENT
AND PREVENTION |
| Footwear
and orthotics play an important role in diabetic foot care. Orthotics
designed with Plastazote Foam, the #1 material for protecting the
insensitive diabetic foot, is usually recommended. Plastazote is a
material designed to accommodate pressure "hot spots" by
conforming to heat and pressure. By customizing to the foot, Plastazote
provides the comfort and protection needed in diabetic foot care. Footwear
constructed with Plastazote is also recommended frequently for the
diabetic patient. |
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| WHAT
SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A THERAPEUTIC SHOE? |
Diabetic footwear
should have the following protective features:
• High, wide toe box (high and wide space in the toe area)
• Removable insoles, for fitting flexibility and the option to insert
Orthotic, if necessary.
• Rocker Soles. These soles are designed to reduce pressure in the areas
of the foot most susceptible to pain, most notably the ball of the foot.
• Firm Heel Counters for support and stability. |
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If
you are a diabetic, you should be particularly alert to any problems you
may be having with your feet. It is very important for diabetics with
neuropathy to take necessary precautions to prevent injury and keep their
feet healthy. If you have diabetes and are experiencing a foot problem,
immediately consult with your foot doctor.
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