Why You Need a Podiatrist on Your Diabetic Care Team

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that needs careful management. As a diabetic, your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, which causes your blood sugar level to remain high. This can damage your blood vessels, affecting circulation to your feet. Left untreated, the consequences can be serious — including foot sores, ulcers, and infection.

That’s why it’s important that you work closely with a podiatrist when learning to manage your diabetes. With a medically supervised treatment plan, any symptoms and damage to your feet can be minimized. 

Drs. Michael Tran and Scott Floyd at AllCare Foot & Ankle Center in Arlington and Dallas, Texas, are diabetic foot specialists who will provide you with the best treatment possible. Our team can also help answer your questions about diabetic foot care. Here’s a look at some common questions and answers to get you started.

What is insulin?

Insulin is a hormone created in your pancreas that allows your body to take sugar out of your blood and use it to feed the cells in your body. 

When your body doesn’t have insulin, or doesn’t have enough, your body is not able to pull the sugar out of your blood. As a result, your blood sugar remains high. This is known as hyperglycemia, a condition that can damage the cells in your body. 

Why is hyperglycemia dangerous?

Frequent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) is a dangerous condition that can make you feel fatigued and nauseous. It can also damage the blood vessels that deliver blood to your organs, leading to heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and nerve damage. It is essential to manage your diabetes to prevent these serious health complications.

When abnormally high levels of glucose in your blood start to damage your blood vessels, your circulation also decreases. Your feet are most likely to suffer damage from poor circulation, since they are the furthest from your heart. The decreased blood flow to your feet can cause the tissue to die, which can result in sores and ulcers that can become infected. 

What is diabetic foot care?

Dr. Michael Tran and Dr. Scott Floyd are diabetic foot care specialists. After reviewing your health history, they discuss your symptoms with you and examine your feet during every visit. They also develop a diabetic foot care treatment plan that will relieve your symptoms and discomfort while keeping your feet healthy.

Some of the treatments they may provide during your appointments include:

• Toenail trimming
• Wound debridement
• Removal of calluses and corns
• Fitting diabetic shoes
• Nail fungus treatment

There are also several things you need to do every day to ensure your feet stay healthy. Your podiatrist will show you what you need to do.

How can I care for my feet?

Regular visits to your podiatrist will help you stay on track with your treatment plan and catch issues before they become serious. There are also a number of things you can do every day that will help your feet stay healthy, including:

• Wearing well-fitting shoes and socks at all times
• Checking your feet every day for hot spots, sores, swelling, and blisters
• Washing and carefully drying your feet every day
• Keeping your toenails trimmed, using an emery board on any rough parts
• Keeping your feet propped up to encourage blood flow while sitting
• Protecting your feet from very hot and cold temperatures

Any issues you find while examining and caring for your feet should be brought to your podiatrist immediately.

Diabetes is a serious condition, but with proper management, your symptoms can be reduced and more serious complications might even be minimized. Call or book an appointment online with our office today.