Voice of the Diabetic

Voice of the Diabetic

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ASK JANIS

by Janis Roszler

Photo: Portrait

Janis Roszler, RD, CDE, LD/N, is a registered dietitian, certified

diabetes educator, and certified insulin pump trainer. She has counseled individuals

with diabetes for over 14 years, and is currently the diabetes educator for

the website: www.diabetic.com

This column is for educational purposes only. For answers that meet your specific

educational needs, consult your physician.

Dear Janis:

I notice my feet sweat with my tennis shoes on. I am a diabetic;

is this a problem?

Dear S.Y.:

It is important for you to keep your feet dry. Moist skin becomes

soft and more prone to infection. For this reason, foot soaking is not recommended

for individuals with diabetes. Burns from the water can also occur. If you sweat

a lot, be sure to use powder on your feet. If you moisturize your feet, do not

moisturize between your toes.

Dear Janis:

I am thirsty all the time. A co-worker suggested I might have

diabetes. What are the symptoms and what could cause it?

Dear Randy:

The exact cause of diabetes is unknown. Heredity may play a

role in developing both types of diabetes. Eating sweets does not cause diabetes,

but must be limited to help control it. Being overweight, certain medications,

and emotional and physical stress related to medical conditions such as pregnancy,

illness and surgery, can play a role in its development. Also, for reasons not

yet known, certain ethnic groups such as Native Americans, Hispanic Americans

and African Americans tend to have a higher incidence of type 2.

The warning symptoms of [type 1] diabetes include: unusual thirst,

frequent urination, intense hunger, numbness or tingling in hands and feet,

blurred vision and extreme fatigue. If you have any of all of these symptoms,

it is important that you see your doctor.

(Editor's Note: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by slow onset

and ambiguous, low-key symptoms. If you suspect you have diabetes, or if you

have a family history of diabetes, your doctor can tell you for certain, with

a blood test.)

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