Diabetes affects about 422 million people across the globe.

It’s one of the leading causes of death in the world.

Individuals with diabetes are twice more likely to develop heart ailments than those without diabetes.

If these facts don’t convey the real concern, then we don’t know what will. Diabetes is a serious health problem. But an annual trip to the podiatrist for your feet check-up is a good start if you want to control diabetes.

How are Podiatry and Diabetic Foot Care connected?

If you’re diabetic and are facing foot ailments, you are bound to consult a podiatrist. Only a podiatrist can give your diabetic foot the accurate diagnosis and the right treatment that it deserves. Be it bunions, corns or calluses, foot ulcers, ingrown toenails, swelling or ankle sprains—an annual trip to the podiatrist is vital for proper treatment and aftercare.

Once you’re diagnosed with diabetes, you develop foot problems mainly due to these two factors:

• Loss of sensitivity in your nervous system: When your nervous system stops feeling any sensation, you may not even experience pain if you’ve hurt your feet or limbs
• A decrease in the blood flow to your feet: Blood is one of the crucial components when it comes to the healing of any wound. But if the blood flow to your feet is diminished due to diabetes, it becomes difficult for a sore or an injury to heal faster

In what ways can a Podiatrist Help Diabetics?

Since your feet are one of the body organs that can get easily affected due to diabetes, a diabetic foot assessment from a podiatrist is a must.

It is suggested that if you have Type 1 diabetes, a regular 6 months feet check-up is critical. As the risk is comparatively lesser in Type 2 diabetics, a foot assessment on an annual basis will do.

How do podiatrists conduct their assessment?

A podiatrist assesses the sensitivity of your nerves by asking you to identify the different sensations that they cause. If your nerves are functioning well, you’ll experience the sensations, if not then diabetes has affected your nervous system.

The podiatrist also monitors the blood flow to your feet by measuring the pulse rate on the inside of your ankle and the top of your feet.

While you understand the role of a podiatrist better, you also need to understand why an annual trip to the podiatrist is highly recommended.

Prevention above all: Isn’t prevention better than getting your diabetic feet treated when it’s in a serious condition? Something as simple as being aware and visiting your podiatrist for daily foot exam can save you all the trouble. They will instantly identify any problems or infections on your feet and suggest the best cure.

Focus on healing: Once your podiatrist has dealt with your feet problems and restored the blood flow, the process of healing the wound begins. It’s a journey for you and your podiatrist as they remove any dead tissue and lift off the pressure on your wound by placing special bracing. But taking care of the wound and letting it heal is your responsibility too.

Over the years, diabetes has become a common condition. But you cannot take this condition lightly as it may prove to be dangerous. So, ensure that you take an annual trip to the podiatrist to be on the safer side.