Podiatrist Help With Diabetic Care
Did you know that a limb is amputated due to diabetes every 20 seconds? Diabetes increases your chances of developing foot issues and complications. Typically, neuropathy in the feet and toes causes this kind of nerve injury.
Over time, you lose the ability to sense pain if you have nerve damage in your foot. When this occurs, a cut, wound, or injury to your foot or toes may go undiscovered. These minor wounds can develop into more serious issues, such foot ulcers, very fast.
Podiatrists can be of assistance here. Podiatrists are medical professionals that specialise in the care and treatment of the feet.
In this blog, we’ll give you a run-down on the relationship between our podiatry services and diabetic care in Chesham, Amersham, and Beaconfield. Read on to learn more.
How Can A Podiatrist Help With Diebetic Care?
An essential member of your diabetes health care team is a podiatrist. Podiatrists have received specialised training in evaluating nerve damage in the feet, identifying dangers to your particular foot health, and assisting patients in developing treatment and preventative strategies. Podiatrists assist in addressing the effects that diabetes might have on your feet.
What Foot Issues Can You Face Due To Diabetes?
There are several foot issues that people with diabetes may encounter, including:
- Nerve Damage: Nerve damage, often known as neuropathy, can result in pain and numbness in your feet. In the long run, this may result in more severe issues, such as losing feeling in your toes and feet. When this occurs, a cut could not be noticed as an injury.
- Foot Ulcers: An ulcer on the foot or toes is a wound that can develop. A portion of the foot’s tissue degrades, resulting in an open wound. These ulcers are prone to swelling and infection. Treatment is expensive and time-consuming. They can need to be amputated if they are not adequately treated or cared for.
- Charcot Foot: Nerve injury in the feet can also result in the bones there being more brittle. These bones can fracture due to deterioration and cause foot abnormalities.
- Amputations: Occasionally, damage caused by a foot ulcer or wound cannot be fixed. If this occurs, you could need to have an amputation.
These are just a few of the foot issues that might develop as a result of diabetes. Your precise risk factors and what to watch out for can be determined with the assistance of a podiatrist.
What To Talk To Your Podiatrist About?
Be sure to come prepared with information about your medical history and a list of questions or concerns when you make an appointment with a podiatrist. You might wish to bring up the following issues with your doctor:
- Nerve Damage: Ask for a monofilament test or thorough testing for nerve damage if you exhibit symptoms of neuropathy. This will assist you in determining whether you have nerve damage, what you should do to prevent it from worsening, and the issues that come with it.
- Foot Exams: Your podiatrist can demonstrate to you how to perform a foot exam at home and what to look out for.
- Temperature Monitoring: Clinical studies have shown that temperature monitoring can reduce the risk of foot ulcers and amputations by as much as 87%. Discuss with your doctor how Siren Diabetic Socks can be used for continuous temperature monitoring as part of your treatment strategy. Siren Diabetic Socks have the advantage of alerting you to the first signs of an injury with a connected app in addition to physically protecting your feet.
- Maintaining the health of your feet: Discuss daily precautions you can take for your feet with your podiatrist.
Looking For A Podiatrist Near You?
We hope this blog helped you understand the relationship between podiatry and diabetic care. If you’re looking for a podiatrist near you, you’ll be happy to know that Bucksfoot Clinic has many branches all over the UK. So, if you ant diabetic care in Chesham, diabetic care in Amersham, or even diabetic care in Beaconsfield… look no further. Book an appointment with Bucksfoot Clinic today.
