American Diabetes Month is observed every November to call attention to the epidemic proportions of diabetes. Nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States now have the disease. Another 86 million have prediabetes and may develop Type 2 diabetes. Are you one of them? Take this quick quiz to find out your risk for diabetes:

1. Are you a male over 50 years of age?
2. Does a family member have the disease?
3. Do you have high blood pressure?
4. Would you describe your lifestyle as sedentary?
5. Are you overweight or obese?

If your answer to most of these questions is yes, you are a prime candidate for the disease. You can take the complete American Diabetes Association test on their site to get a more accurate picture. However, just because you don’t fit this profile doesn’t mean you can breathe a sigh of relief. Anyone—at any age—can get the disease, but you can take action to prevent that from happening to you.

This year’s theme for Diabetes Month is “Eat Well, America!” and the goal is to get you to buy, prepare, and serve healthy food for yourself and your family. We advocate this, because we know the effect of diabetes on feet. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels from unhealthy eating (whether it ultimately leads to diabetes or not) can lead to poor circulation and nerve damage that put your feet at risk for ulcers, deteriorating bones, nerve compression and damage, and even amputation. By eating right and exercising faithfully, you can significantly lower your odds.

To find out more about diabetes’ effects on your feet, check out our patient library and blogs. If you have the disease and notice anything different about your feet, call Parker Foot & Ankle in Houston, TX at (281) 497-2850 right away or book an appointment online by contacting us in the form below. Catching a problem early is key to heading off a serious issue that could keep you down for weeks. We provide excellent diagnosis and treatment of nerve damage and comprehensive wound care. We also offer diet and exercise guidelines to keep your feet healthy and you on the move. Houston’s foot care expert is ready to help lower your risk for diabetes.