We just finished National Diabetes Month, a time devoted to preventing diabetes-related health problems. But we don’t limit that effort to November. Instead, here at our Houston podiatry practice, we focus on preventative diabetic foot care all year long.
Remember, diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, or blood sugar, is too high. It affects about 37 million Americans of all ages, both adults and children. Many of the problems associated with diabetes involve the feet. For that reason, we’re devoting this post to explaining why podiatry visits are essential for patients with diabetes.
How Diabetes Affects Your Feet ![gloved physician with blood sugar monitor during podiatry visits for diabetics]()
If you’re diabetic, your podiatrist’s role on your healthcare team is critical. The podiatrist is not just there to check your feet. He or she plays a key part in preventing and managing complications arising from diabetes. You see, diabetes can lead to poor blood circulation and nerve damage in your feet, making them vulnerable to infections and ulcers. But regular checkups with your podiatrist can help you manage these issues.
At each appointment we offer to diabetic patients, Dr. Andrew Schneider closely monitors your feet for any sign of problems. But our team also teaches you how to take good care of your feet at home. Because diabetic foot care is not something that can be forgotten about between office visits. Instead, it is a partnership between you and your podiatrist. And so there are steps you’ll have to take every day, on your own, in order to protect your feet properly.
At-Home Diabetic Foot Care
At your visits in the office, we’ll model proper home foot care. This includes showing the proper foot hygiene, and helping you understand what to look out for during your daily foot checks. Most importantly, we need you to detect changes in skin color, developing sores, or signs of unusual swelling. But that’s not all we’ll accomplish during your visit.
Our team can also help you choose the right footwear to protect your feet. In our office, we carry the Anodyne brand of diabetic shoes, designed for maximum protection as well as style. This might seem like a minor detail but the right shoes can make a huge difference. They can prevent pressure points that can lead to sores and ulcers. As such, switching to diabetic shoes can be critical for many patients.
Podiatry Visits for Diabetics: Managing Neuropathy and Vascular Disease
Neuropathy is a diabetic foot complication that can seriously impact your life if it’s not properly managed. It’s a type of nerve damage that may lead to pain or numbness in your feet. You may not feel a cut, blister or a sore. And, if left undetected, these can worsen and lead to infection if not treated properly.
In addition to neuropathy, another complication you need to be aware of is peripheral vascular disease, a condition that affects blood circulation in your feet. This disease can cause the blood vessels to narrow, limiting the blood flow to your feet and legs.
When you have poor blood flow, it’s harder for your body to heal wounds or fight infection, which leads to serious foot problems.
Maintaining Regular Podiatry Visits for Diabetics
Now that you understand how many different ways diabetes can impact your feet, let’s return to the main point of this post: why it’s so important to maintain regular podiatry visits for diabetic patients. Well, here’s the deal. These routine visits offer a slew of benefits that can significantly impact your foot health.
Regular podiatry checkups can help detect potential foot problems in their early stages. This will save you from severe complications down the line. As a diabetic patient, you’re at a heightened risk of foot problems. Your podiatrist in Houston, TX can identify these problems before they worsen, allowing for proper treatment.
On your own, you might not notice symptoms of developing foot complications until it’s too late. That’s where regular podiatry visits for diabetics come in. They’re not just about treating problems, they’re about prevention. And that is one of the best and most important tools we have in the fight against diabetic limb loss.
What a Podiatrist Adds to Your Diabetic Care Team
Your podiatrist can advise you on proper foot care, helping you avoid issues in the first place. But keeping up with regular podiatry visits isn’t just about prevention. It also allows you to check the progress of your foot health over time.
As we mentioned, diabetics are at a higher risk for numerous foot complications. Regular checkups give our team to catch any problems early, dramatically reducing the risk of these complications worsening and threatening your limb health. If we detect an issue, like a wound, we’ll monitor changes, track healing, and adjust your treatment plan as needed. It’s a proactive approach that’s crucial for your overall well-being.
In addition, these visits provide you with a valuable chance to ask questions and voice concerns, ensuring that you’re well-informed about your foot health. But you don’t have to limit your questions to direct foot concerns. After all, when Dr. Schneider is on your care team, he’s invested in supporting your overall disease management. So, from concerns about meal plans to safe exercise and more, he’s here to provide advice and support along the way.
Podiatry Visits for Diabetics: What to Expect in Our Houston Office
In your regular podiatry visits, you’ll undergo a comprehensive foot evaluation and examination. These are an essential part of managing your diabetes effectively. During these procedures, we’ll thoroughly inspect your feet for signs of nerve damage, such as numbness or loss of sensation.
We’ll also check for circulation problems by feeling pulses in your feet and examining the color and temperature of your skin. If you have corns, calluses, or other foot issues, they’ll be spotted and addressed. This is another critical way to protect your limbs, since calluses can break down on diabetic feet, quickly developing into dangerous ulcers.
The health of your toenails will also be assessed for fungus or other infections. Following your comprehensive foot evaluation, you’ll receive a personalized diabetic footwear recommendation.
You may wonder why shoes matter so much. Well, proper footwear is vita for avoiding foot injuries, which can escalate quickly. If you’re diabetic, we’ll likely recommend shoes with ample toe room, cushioned insoles and good arch support. These features reduce pressure points, minimizing the risk of ulcers and blisters. And don’t overlook the importance of socks, either. Choose seamless, moisture-wicking socks to avoid rubbing and sweating. These reduce friction that causes blisters, while reducing the risk of forming an athlete’s foot infection.
Schedule Your Diabetic Podiatry Appointment in Houston, TX
If you have diabetes, regular podiatry visits are not a luxury, but a necessity. Prioritize your foot health. Reach out to our office and schedule that appointment today.
