Ruth Ann Cooper, D.P.M

Diabetes affects the lives of more than 29 million people in the United States and more than eight million don’t even know they have the disease yet. Diabetes is the inability to manufacture of properly use insulin and it impairs the body’s ability to convert sugars, starches and other foods into energy. The long-term effects of the elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can leads to serious damage to the eyes, heart, kidney, nerves and feet.

While there is no cure for diabetes, there is hope. With proper diet, exercise, medical care and careful management at home, you can help outsmart diabetes! Many people avoid the most serious complications and enjoy a full and active life. Today’s podiatrist plays a key role in helping patients successfully manage diabetes and avoid foot-related complications. Podiatrists are highly trained physicians and surgeons focusing on the foot and ankle and are an important part of your diabetes management team.

Fast Facts

1) More than 65,000 lower limbs are amputated annually due to complications from diabetes.

2) Including a podiatrist in your diabetes care can reduce the risk of lower limb amputation up to 85 percent.

3) Inclusion of care provided by podiatrists for those with diabetes will save our healthcare system as much as $3.5 billion per year.

4) Almost 28 percent of people with diabetes don’t know they have it.