How Practicing Sugar Control Can Save Your Feet

Posted on November 1, 2018 | Categories: Common Foot Conditions, Diabetic Foot Care

Many studies have shown that the overconsumption of sugar is bad for our health. Too much sugar contributes to heart disease, hypertension, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes.

The problem is that sugar is everywhere. It’s added to packaged foods at the grocery store. It shows up at the office in the form of birthday cakes in the break room. It begs you to enter its lair by convincing you that you must participate in your co-worker’s kid’s Girl Scout cookie fundraiser.

The sugar monster screams at us full-force at Halloween. Podiatrists Chanda L. Day-Houts, DPM and Heidi M. Christie, DPM at Montgomery Foot Care Specialists encourage you to prevent this beast from completely taking over your household and doing a lot of damage at Halloween. Why do we care? Because the health risks associated with too much sugar can have a direct impact on your feet:

  • Heart disease. When your heart’s not pumping well, it’s hard for blood to make it to those places that are furthest away, like your feet. When feet are deprived of blood, they can be perpetually cold. Worse, they may do a lousy job at healing even the smallest of cuts, leaving you at risk for infection.
  • Obesity can result in foot problems like fallen arches and chronic heel pain. What’s more, carrying extra weight can change your gait and cause pain not only in your feet, but your ankles, knees, and hips as well.
  • Type 2 diabetes. Uncontrolled high blood sugar eventually affects your feet. It contributes to peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and nerve damage, which make it harder to feel and heal your feet. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of foot amputations.

The ancient Greeks had a saying: “Pan metron ariston (Παν μέτρον άριστον).” It translates to “everything in moderation.” This is an idea that we should really take to heart at Halloween. Go ahead and eat some candy, but portion it out a little at a time. Enjoy the sugar rush in moderation. Your feet will thank you.

For more information about keeping your feet fit and healthy, visit our website’s education page, make an appointment online, or give us a call at our office in Montgomery, Alabama at (334) 396-3668.