September-October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage month, so, in advance of the kick-off, I want to share some important foot health information for Hispanic individuals.
Did you know that, in the U.S., about 12% of the Hispanic population has diabetes (whereas, according to the CDC, only 8.3% of the total U.S. population has the disease? More importantly, are you aware that people with Hispanic heritage have a 66% higher risk of developing the disease when compared to non-Hispanic whites?
When you consider the fact that about 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes develop nerve damage that can lead to foot loss, you begin to realize how important it is for individuals at high risk of getting diabetes to develop a relationship with a podiatrist, even before they experience any health problems.
One of the strongest tools podiatrist have in the fight to protect diabetics from losing their limbs is prevention: that means, knowing what your baseline foot health situation is and engaging in regular foot exams to make sure you aren’t developing ulcers or other wounds that can put you at risk of losing your foot or leg.
As a Houston podiatrist, I’m not here to scare you about your potential future health problems, I’m here to help you protect your feet! If you already have diabetes, or are concerned about your general foot health and your risk of limb loss, schedule an appointment with Dr. Andrew Schneider for a comprehensive foot health evaluation.