Sweet potato for Diabetics

 Can sweet potato help lower blood sugars?

Sweet potato is a tropical food which is widely consumed globally. In two small studies, consumption of sweet potato did lead to lowering of blood sugars and HbA1c. However, there are many types of sweet potatoes and no one knows which species is the best to consume. Diabetics should not substitute sweet potato for their diabetic medications as the evidence is not very strong. Sweet potato is well tolerated, is tasty (esp the french fries) and should be enjoyed as a food rather than treated as a medication.

Vitamins for diabetic neuropathy

 Vitamins to treat diabetic neuropathy

The treatment of diabetic neuropathy is not satisfactory. Some anticonvulsants and antidepressants do work, but often they stop working in the long run. Many people have been turning to vitamin B for treatment. In one study, large doses of vitamin B did relieve the pain, but the study was sponsored by the manufacturer and so bias cannot be ruled out. 

You may want to try high doses of vitamin B, because It is relatively safe and see what happens. In the meantime, stop smoking, protect your feet and keep good control of your blood sugars.

Remember vitamins are a billion dollar business and people often make false claims to deceive desperately ill patients.

Surgery for corns

 I have had corns and calluses for many years. Recently my doctor said I needed surgery to realign my toes. Will this help me?

It is very rare that surgery is done for corns and calluses. In some cases of poorly aligned joints, the surgeon may correct the joint deformity. However, these are very unusual cases. In most people, surgery is the last choice of treatment. The majority of foot doctors suck and can make your symptoms worse. Surgery should never be undertaken until you have tried better shoes and shoe inserts. Unless you want a life of pain and suffering, avoid surgery for corns and calluses. Remember-all these professionals only want your money. 

Diabetic with corns

 I am a diabetic and am wondering if I should allow my foot doctor to remove my corns. Is this okay?

If you have diabetes, the last thing you want is for a foot doctor to muck around with your feet. Never let anyone touch your feet if you are diabetic is the best advice I can give you. If you have foot problems and are diabetic, see a vascular surgeon first and let him determine if the blood supply to your feet is okay. Otherwise, you can quickly end up having no toes and no feet. I have been involved in countless malpractice cases against foot doctors who never assessed the blood supply of diabetic patients-end result was amputation.

Corns and callus

Are there any home remedies I can use for my corns and calluses?

Sure, there are. Go to a pharmacy and get some pads or shoe inserts. Apply these pads to the areas where there is pressure on the skin. If you plan to use a sparing blade to remove the corns, always soak your feet first. This will make the corns softer. Use a pumice stone on a frequent bases, preferable soon after you have a shower. This will help prevent accumulation of tough skin. The one thing you should always do is apply a moisturizer several times a day. This will keep the skin soft and smooth. 

Finally, wear a decent pair of shoes and wear comfortable socks that can absorb moisture. Cotton socks are probably the best.

Laser hair removal

Can you tell me which is an effective laser for hair removal?

Laser hair removal is big business and people who sell this therapy make many false promises. Studies indicate that the best lasers for hair removal are the alexandrite and the diode laser. These lasers only work in 50% of people with light skin. Lasers that are useless or barely work for hair removal include the intense pulsed light, ND: YAG or ruby laser. Irrespective of which laser you are treated with, laser hair removal only lasts 3-6 months. 

There is no laser that can remove hair permanently- that is only in the imagination of the laser manufacturers. Side effects like pain, skin reddening, burnt hair, scarring, permanent skin discoloration are commonly reported with all lasers. For every one person who has a good result after laser hair removal, there are 10 others who had a shitty result.

Varicose veins and pregnancy

 I am a 31 year old female and have just delivered my first baby. I now have large rope like varicose veins. Is there any non-surgical treatment for these veins?

Yes, many women develop varicose veins during pregnancy. Once the baby is delivered and you begin to lose weight, the varicose vein will start to decrease in size but will not completely disappear. While surgery is one of the ways to remove varicose veins, they can recur. 

The best treatment which is effective, cheap and free of complications is a decent pair of compression stockings. The only negative about these stockings is that you  may feel warm during the summer. However, there are some excellent styles and designs of compression stockings which can be worn during the summer. If you cannot tolerate the stockings then surgery is your next option. There are many types of newer surgical procedure to remove varicose veins, but I would wait and see how you respond to stockings. 

In most cases, varicose veins that occur during pregnancy subside after delivery.