5 Actions that Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

What if you could take simple steps to reduce your chances of getting Type 2 diabetes? You can. Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland offers 5 simple steps you can take to help prevent Type 2 Diabetes.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. It’s a fantastic opportunity to think about preventing a disease that strikes 463 million people worldwide and complicates their health.

Why should you take steps to prevent diabetes?

Diabetes complications are numerous! High blood sugar affects your heart, skin, eyes, kidneys, circulation, and nervous system. Lack of proper blood circulation and damage to your nerve endings are the two diabetes complications our podiatrists worry about the most. Damage to the blood vessels that lead to your feet is called PAD. It prevents cuts and sores from healing properly. Damage to the nerves in your feet is called peripheral neuropathy and causes a lack of feeling in your feet.

Reduce your risk of diabetes and its foot complications by taking the following actions:

1. Get tested for prediabetes. Prediabetes means your blood sugar is high but not high enough to be called diabetes. It also means you’re on a direct path to diabetes if you’re not careful.
2. Stay active. Experts recommend 30 minutes per day of heart rate-raising, sweat-inducing exercise such as brisk walking.
3. Quit smoking/vaping. The chemicals in cigarettes and vaping liquids contribute to blood vessel damage.
4. Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is a major risk factor for developing diabetes. Daily exercise will help you keep your weight down, as will mindful choices to eat whole grains, fruits, and vegetables over processed foods and sugary snacks.
5. Plan your meals ahead of time, perhaps taking time over the weekend to cook healthy foods to eat during the week.

Our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, Dr. Jim Swienconek, Dr. Rachel Robinson, and Dr. Courtney Yoder encourage all our patients to avoid diabetes. Certainly, if you do have diabetes, we are here to help you prevent any foot problems from getting worse. For expert treatment of the diabetic foot, call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.