Our Bleak Diabetic Forecast: A Florida Podiatrist’s Viewpoint

New data released by The Institute for Alternative Futures from the recent study, United States’ Diabetes Crisis: Today and Future Trends, reveal several important trends that have far-reaching public health consequences. The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia reports that approximately 26 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes; more shocking is that almost 79 million more people have “pre diabetes” symptoms. In 2007, the cost of pre diabetes and diabetes was estimated at $218 billion and will rise. As more patients experience disease progression and require clinical care, the health care system, and all kinds of health care providers, will feel the impact of this public health crisishttp://www.altfutures.org/diabetes2025).

From medical doctors and nutritionists, educators and nurses, professionals who interact with diabetic and prediabetic people have an important role to play addressing patients’ needs. Dr. Burton Schuler,http://www.footcare4u.com/category/about-dr-schuler/ who practices podiatry in Panama City, Florida, and has treated hundreds of diabetes patients’ over three decades, weighs in on diabetes and foot health in his book Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts in the Foot http://www.whyyoureallyhurt.com). He literally sees things from the ground up, as many diabetic patients experience poor circulation in their feet—leading to the tragic but all too common need for amputation. What Schuler points out is that patients with diabetic neuropathy can avoid further foot problems if they have “Morton’s Toe”– short first metatarsal bone.

A short first toe can intensify complications for diabetics because the foot’s weight is unevenly distributed since the first toe does not do the work it should be doing. You can imagine that if you already have a condition like Morton’s Toe—that can lead to bunions, hammer toes, plantar fasciitis, and other foot problems—then you are setting yourself up for complications if it remains untreated http://whyyoureallyhurt.com/mortons-toe/pronation/). Schuler prescribes a simple toe pad that can be placed under the first toe to redistribute proper balance in the foot.

While diabetes may not be as simple to treat, correcting other foot problems can go a long way to ensure that bad feet can’t be misdiagnosed as diabetic neuropathy–burning pain and numbness in the feet http://whyyoureallyhurt.com/mortons-toe/diabetes-2/). Such a misdiagnosis can lead you down a path of more doctors and specialists—such as neurologists—when a trip to the podiatrist’s office and a diagnosis of Morton’s Toe can alleviate pain. This is news to consider as we figure out ways to militate against the growing diabetes epidemic and all of its accompanying medical complications.

Dr. Burton S. Schuler is a foot doctor, foot specialist (Podiatrist), of Panama City, Fl and the director of the Ambulatory Foot Clinics Podiatric Pain Management Center. He is also the author of the new book Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In The Foo