If You’re Diabetic, You Should See a Podiatrist – Here’s Why

For those who are not familiar, podiatrists are doctors that deal with medical problems on the foot, ankle, and lower extremity. Yes, they are real doctors who can do surgery, treat broken bones, and prescribe drugs to help treat your foot injuries and other complications.

“So, what do foot doctors have to do with diabetic people?”

Glad you asked. Whether you have Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, your feet will be greatly affected. This disease can damage the nerves in your feet and cut the blood supply which can result in several other infections.

If not properly treated or cared for, foot problems like foot ulcers, foot infections, and in worst cases, amputation may arise.

That’s why you have to see a podiatrist and undergo regular diabetic foot assessments to properly care for your feet while you’re battling diabetes.

If you need more convincing, below are only some of the reasons why you should book an appointment with a podiatrist right now.

1. Podiatrists need to know whether blood supply is enough

All forms of diabetes can reduce the blood flow in your body. And glucose is the culprit. These sugar molecules clog up your arteries, thus, narrowing the path of your blood.

The worse thing is that your feet are the farthest from your heart so it makes the blood flow in your lower extremities even more difficult.

You already know what happens when there’s not enough blood that is supplied throughout the body. A significant amount of oxygen that is badly needed to perform all bodily functions will also be reduced to a minimum.

Oxygen insufficiency can lead to several complications like a slower healing process. If left unchecked or untreated, wounds can only get worse from there.

That’s why regular visits to a podiatry clinic are a must. Foot doctors can tell whether you have good blood flow or not just by looking at your skin tone and the overall appearance of your feet. They can also judge whether you have a good heart rate by checking the two major pulses in your feet.

After some assessments, they will tell you what you need to do on how to take care of your feet.

2. Experts also need to check if you can still feel sensations on your feet

Aside from blood flow, diabetes can also restrict the sensations that you can feel on your feet. That’s because of the nerve damage that is the result of too much sugar in the body.

Nerves in the human body have this protective layer called the myelin sheath, which can only take a certain amount of sugar. Once it absorbs too much, this protective layer will be destroyed, leaving the nerves exposed and desensitized.

This means that you wouldn’t feel anything like heat, vibrations, and pain. You can even cut yourself and you wouldn’t know because of the numbness on your feet. And if these wounds are left unchecked, they can result in several infections.

Good thing podiatrists know exactly what to do if these scenarios happen. So if we were you, we’d book an appointment immediately.

3. Podiatrists will provide care for your skin and nails

If you have diabetes, your skin and nails are greatly affected, too. But with the help of podiatrists, you can keep them in tip-top shape.

Podiatrists will provide the proper foot care that you need to prevent cuts and wounds from getting infected. They can also check and treat your feet whether corns, warts, lesions, calluses, and ingrown nails have developed on your feet.

Keeping these types of infections and diseases at bay can help you live a relatively normal life while you are getting treated for your condition.