Diabetes can significantly impact your foot health, leading to a range of serious complications. Initial consequences often include poor circulation, a loss of sensation (neuropathy), dry skin, and a compromised immune response, making infections harder to fight. Without proper care, these issues can escalate, potentially leading to ulcerations, severe infections, amputation, loss of mobility, a decreased quality of life, and even a reduced life expectancy.
Fortunately, podiatrists are experts in foot health and play a vital role in helping individuals with diabetes maintain healthy feet and prevent devastating complications. Here are key reasons why regular visits to a podiatrist are crucial:
- Comprehensive Foot Examinations: A podiatrist will thoroughly examine your feet to assess for current problems and identify potential future risks. This allows for immediate treatment of existing conditions and the development of proactive strategies to prevent further complications.
- Personalized Foot Health Education: Your podiatrist will educate you on how to best care for your feet. Understanding and implementing a good daily foot care routine can make a significant difference in preventing problems.
- Access to Diabetic Footwear: You may qualify for specially designed diabetic shoes. These shoes are constructed to better accommodate the unique needs of diabetic feet compared to regular footwear, significantly helping to prevent skin breakdown (ulceration), infection, and, ultimately, amputation.
- Professional Foot Care Services: If you have difficulty reaching your feet or seeing well enough to care for them safely, a podiatrist can provide essential foot care. This includes professionally trimming thick or hard-to-manage toenails and safely reducing calluses and corns.
- Significant Reduction in Amputation Risk: Multiple studies and published research indicate that regular care from a podiatrist can reduce the risk of lower limb amputation in people with diabetes by a substantial margin (often cited as 30-80%). While amputation is one of the most feared complications of diabetes, proactive prevention, starting with regular podiatric care, is your best defense.
Don’t wait for a problem to arise. If you have diabetes, schedule regular check-ups with your podiatrist. It’s a critical step in protecting your foot health, mobility, and overall well-being.
Os Wight Foot and Ankle Institute 