Longevity Live Paid Content. If you or someone you know has recently been diagnosed with diabetes, you’ve probably been referred to a podiatrist, and you’re probably wondering why.
Well, today, we’re going to give you an insight into why a podiatrist is one of the most important healthcare specialists you should see when you have diabetes.
For those who aren’t aware, a podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in the health of feet and lower limbs. Sometimes called foot doctors, a podiatrist can assess, diagnose, and treat all sorts of conditions that can affect the feet, ankles, nails, skin, and anything to do with the feet and lower limbs.
So, what does this have to do with diabetes?
Well, whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, your feet are one of the areas of the body that can be most affected by the condition. This is because one of the main areas and functions of the body diabetes affects is the efficient flow of blood around the body. As your feet are the furthest area from the heart, they often feel the brunt of this problem the most.
So, what will a podiatrist do when you have diabetes?
These are the assessments and checks that a podiatrist is likely to do when you have diabetes:
Assessment of Blood Flow and Circulation
As we just touched on above, the feet can be greatly affected by diabetes, as this condition impacts the efficiency of blood flow throughout the body.
When someone suffers from diabetes, their body has difficulty in being able to process glucose in the body. Often this results in high glucose levels and the excessive sugar molecules can, over time, end up clogging your artery walls. When the arteries become clogged, it makes it harder for the blood to circulate properly.
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Because your feet are so far from your heart, the blood can take longer to get to them, and if circulation is particularly poor, it can cause health issues. Blood flow is vital because it transports oxygen through the body and also helps our cells to regenerate and repair, which helps with healing from injuries and accidents, and being in the best condition possible.
To check whether your blood flow is sufficient, a podiatrist may perform tests, such as checking for a healthy heartbeat in your feet. They may check the condition of your skin. And sometimes they can tell how efficiently your blood is flowing just by your skin tone.
Sensation and Feeling Tests
Another problem that diabetes can cause is nerve damage. This can cause the loss of feeling and touch and happens because the protective sheath of the nerves, known as a myelin sheath, can’t absorb too much sugar. And when someone has diabetes, there is a high level of glucose (sugar) in the body.
Over time, diabetes can destroy the myelin sheath and cause desensitization and numbness. This can mean that you might injure your feet more without realizing it as you aren’t always able to feel heat or pain.
As blood flow helps with healing, when you injure your feet, and you have diabetes, the management and recovery of cuts, bruises, scratches, and any other problems need to be carefully monitored as it can be a slow process.
A podiatrist will run various tests to see how strong the feeling is in your feet.
Examine Nails and Skin
Good blood flow will mean good skin and nails of the feet too. When you have diabetes, the skin and nails are often hugely affected. Nails can break and become infected, as can the skin.
A podiatrist will always check for lesions, warts, calluses and corns, and various other conditions to ensure your feet and nails are in the best condition possible.
Book in to see a podiatrist today
If you have diabetes, it’s crucial you visit an experienced podiatrist who specializes in diabetic assessments. If you’re in Melbourne’s Northeast, you can visit Watsonia Podiatry. Call them today to book your diabetes assessment.
Who is the author?
Emma Paige is a health guru and fitness enthusiast; she enjoys writing about how different plants, herbs, and root crops can make a positive impact on our health.
