Why Podiatry is Essential for People with Diabetes?
Podiatry is one of the most overlooked aspects of treatment for those dealing with the disease. Because feet can be greatly affected by diabetes, they should be monitored on a regular basis. Having a podiatrist on hand at every stage of diabetes can be beneficial for the prevention of foot problems, regular diabetes checkups, or for assisting you with managing foot complications or injuries. Higher levels of blood glucose can damage the nerve endings in the body, including the feet. Other possible damage to the feet with diabetes can include:
- Poor circulation
- Foot Infection
- Foot ulcers
- Stiff joints
- Nerve damage known as peripheral neuropathy in the feet.
What is Involved in a Comprehensive Foot Examination?
Skilled podiatrists can assess the risk factors of those with diabetes during a comprehensive foot exam. Checking for abnormalities such as evaluation of pulses, sensation in the feet, and foot biomechanics such as general foot structure and function, helps determine the person’s risk for developing foot complications associated to diabetes. Patient education and examination can prevent future problems.
What Foot Conditions Are Related to Diabetes?
When evaluating the feet, podiatrists consider specific conditions as they assess the risk for complications in those people with diabetes. Those conditions may include:
- Neuropathy – A condition where the nerves of your peripheral nervous system are affected causing a burning or tingling sensation.
- Charcot Foot – Charcot foot is a form of arthropathy which causes weakening and fracturing of the bones in the foot.
- Vasculopathy - This condition is often caused by insufficient blood supply just beneath the knee and indicates the presence of occlusion of the arteries, which is common to people with diabetes.
- Musculoskeletal Structural Changes –People with diabetes are at a higher risk to develop foot deformities such as hammertoes, bunions, high-arched foot, or flatfoot in combination with muscle-tendon imbalances.
