Do you experience pain, numbness, burning, or tingling in feet that gets worse during the night or when your feet are in an unsupported position?

If so, you’re likely experiencing neuropathy.

It’s an early sign of diabetes.

And if you leave it unchecked and simply try to endure and persevere through the symptoms, it can lead to intense symptoms, such as:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Kidney problems
• Blurry vision
• Foot bone fractures
• Amputation of extremities
• Death

We’re not trying to scare you. But even if you don’t experience some of the more extreme issues, the longer you wait, the more your health suffers and the more time and money it takes to keep your health in check.

So, for your own physical and emotional wellness, it simply makes sense to get a diabetic foot exam if you experience what you believe are the beginning symptoms of diabetes.

Researchers believe Type 1 Diabetes is caused by a mix of genes and environmental factors (like viruses). There may not be much you can do to prevent it. Fortunately, it isn’t common.

Type 2 Diabetes, however, frequently results from lifestyle choices. Genetics play a role too. But, simply being overweight (and especially obese) and physically inactive are two of the largest factors in causing the much more common Type 2 Diabetes.

4 Types of Exams

Fortunately, while it can be difficult to diagnose some medical conditions, it’s easy for doctors to diagnose diabetes with pinpoint precision.

Any of these four kinds of exams may be used:

1. Vascular, which checks the two major arteries in your foot
2. Neurological, which checks your ability to sense vibration
3. Dermatological, which checks for scaling, swelling, or fissuring in your skin
4. Musculoskeletal, which uses X-rays to check for deformities

Basically, if genetics or your lifestyle put you at risk for diabetes, you should come in at least annually for an exam. Many people aren’t aware of or ignore or minimize the problems they experience, which leads to them identifying their diabetes later on.

As a result, they end up suffering in pain unnecessarily. Sometimes for the rest of their lives.

If you’re at risk for diabetes, consider coming in more frequently than just once per year for an exam.

Insurance covers these exams. The exams have an easily affordable cost. And they can save you so much pain and suffering and inconvenience to the lifestyle you enjoy.

So it makes sense to do something simple and take care of yourself with regular diabetic foot exams.