Photos and Diabetes
Photos can be more valuable than you think, especially when it comes to helping you maintain your resolve to stay on a diet.
I'm often asked about specific ways to stay the course when there's real medical considerations that require diet restriction. This is especially true in the case of anyone who has a diagnosis of diabetes.
Diabetes, as most of the autoimmune disorders, is especially sensitive to any increase in stress and requires careful adherence to a diet, weight control and exercise. How do you do it?
I've seen a number of patients who have had diabetes and some of them have either had amputations of the toes or feet or serious eye problems as a result of this destructive disease's course. Thinking about how anyone who hasn't come to this state of the disease might remain healthy and whole, I decided on one thing that would be very helpful-your camera.
Digital photography has made it possible for all of us to take a photo and print it right after we've taken it. Graphic reminders can help and I've come up with one for the diabetic and the dieter.
Diabetic patients should take a photo of their feet, print it with the words, "I'm doing this for my feet because I want to keep them," and paste it on the refrigerator door. If that doesn't work, there's a serious problem.
Related Topics: Diabetes Diet, Diabetes and the Holidays
I'm often asked about specific ways to stay the course when there's real medical considerations that require diet restriction. This is especially true in the case of anyone who has a diagnosis of diabetes.
Diabetes, as most of the autoimmune disorders, is especially sensitive to any increase in stress and requires careful adherence to a diet, weight control and exercise. How do you do it?
I've seen a number of patients who have had diabetes and some of them have either had amputations of the toes or feet or serious eye problems as a result of this destructive disease's course. Thinking about how anyone who hasn't come to this state of the disease might remain healthy and whole, I decided on one thing that would be very helpful-your camera.
Digital photography has made it possible for all of us to take a photo and print it right after we've taken it. Graphic reminders can help and I've come up with one for the diabetic and the dieter.
Diabetic patients should take a photo of their feet, print it with the words, "I'm doing this for my feet because I want to keep them," and paste it on the refrigerator door. If that doesn't work, there's a serious problem.
Related Topics: Diabetes Diet, Diabetes and the Holidays
4 Comments:
I am a 51yr.old femal that has Type II Diabetes and is Insulin Dependant (67cc's) at bedtime. On 2-28-07 and 3-2-07 I had surgery to remove my big toe on my right foot due to an infection (strep AND staff)of a diabetic foot ulcer directly under the knuckle of the big toe where it attaches to the foot. This has been a two year battle to heal this sore up. It would be almost healed, then it would infect and "grow" again! Antibiotics and a tough regime of cutting away the dead and calloused tissue weekly at the Wound Specialists office, proved nothing. I have NOT LOOKED at the surgery site yet! I CAN'T!!!!!! I am so afraid of what I am going to see, I go into a full blown PANIC ATTACK every time I think I can do this and look at it!! The STRESS AND ANXIETY are becoming life altering for me!! I can't imagine what I expect to see, all my family is 100% supportive of me, and tell me I will look when I am ready......they also keep telling me how "GOOD IT LOOKS", but I can't bring myself to look at it!! What can I do? I KNOW I will HAVE TO LOOK AT IT SOONER OR LATER, BUT FOR NOW, LATER IS JUST FINE WITH ME!!! Soon the Home Nurses won't need to come any longer to clean the wound since the Doctor took all the remaining stitches out yesterday. Then it will be up to me to keep it clean. But how can I do that IF I CAN'T LOOK AT IT, HOW CAN I CLEAN IT AND CARE FOR IT? S O M E O N E PLEASE HELP ME!! I AM SO SCARED, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!!!!
Dear Debbie,
My mother is also a diabetic. About 1 year ago she had the same operation because of an ingrown toenail on her right big toe. At first she felt the same way you do about looking at her foot for the first time. Although she had alot of family support she had a really hard time with the fact that her toe was gone.The first time she saw her foot after the surgery she cried, and was upset.But soon after she realized it could have been much worse. Even without her toe she can still be the wonderful grandmother and mother that she is.By looking at her foot for the first time she was one step closer to getting on with her life. Life was her gift in the end. (slaglekelli@yahoo.com)
My father had two of his toes on his right foot removed. He seems to be falling alot lately. Is it because he is missing those toes?? He is 73 years old and is very active. Please any one I need a answer.
Ernestina Alvarez
If diabetes is under control (under 7.0 a1c) and a blister forms on the toe. How important are antibiotics as an early deterent of the possibility of amputation?
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