If you want to take better care of your feet, I hope that you will enjoy reading the articles I have posted here. I'm an amateur writer and researcher with no links to the podiatry industry. However, I have a passion for this area of medicine. Here you will find articles about every aspect of podiatry, from clipping your toe-nails, dealing with hard skin, beating fungal infections, and much, much more. I hope you find the info on this blog useful and also entertaining. Take care of your feet, beloved readers, and check back soon for more updates and posts.
A lot of people lose their limbs to diabetes-related complications annually. When you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop complications from minor foot injuries because your neuropathy is already compromised. It is common for diabetic patients to suffer a small cut on the foot, and then watch it fester into a large foot ulcer which takes a lot of time to heal from, and at times, does not heal at all. To avoid such health complications, it is advisable to have a competent podiatrist to constantly help you with foot checkups as you deal with diabetes. Here are three main reasons to think about regular visits to the podiatrists.
Early Detection of Foot Problems
The first benefit you get from visiting a competent podiatrist is that they will perform routine checkups and figure out if you have any developing foot problems. Some of the most common issues which they diagnose include nerve damage and foot ulcers. The main symptom of nerve damage to the feet is numbness. If the numbness persists and reaches a level where at times you cannot feel your feet, it is possible you are dealing with nerve damage. Ulcers, on the other word, are wounds which refuse to heal even after treatment. They just keep festering, and if not dealt with in time, can lead to loss of the foot.
Dealing with Charcot Foot Complications
When the nerves to your feet get damaged, you may end up developing larger complications such as Charcot foot. This is a condition where nerve damage spreads to the bones and weakens them. The weakened bones may get fractures and this eventually leads to foot deformities.
Advice on Complicated Foot Problems
Sadly, a lot of people with diabetes allow their foot wounds and ulcers to fester until they reach the point where there is little that can be done to heal the wound. Seeing a podiatrist is the first step in getting a proper diagnosis. The podiatrist will also help in checking the wounds which are in their advanced stages, and if they feel that the only way out is an amputation, they will direct you to the right hospital.
These are the three main reasons why anyone dealing with diabetes should have a competent podiatrist for regular checkups. Remember that the best way to deal with wounds is preventing them from festering, as it is easier than trying to treat them afterwards.
For more information, contact a local podiatry diabetes treatment service.