7 Reasons You Need A Podiatrist on Your Diabetic Health Care Team

Living with diabetes means taking extra steps to ensure a healthy lifestyle. After all, although type 2 diabetes is preventable, more than 11% of the United States population lives with the condition. Some of the actions to live well with diabetes are well-known, but others are not.

For example, do you realize how essential diabetic foot care is to the overall health of someone living with this condition? And do you know why you need to have a podiatrist on your diabetic health care team? 

If not, you’ve come to the right place. Foot + Ankle Specialty Centers offers extensive diabetic foot care options. Our providers — Payam Sarraf, DPM, Kate Kennedy, DPM, Katy Statler, DPM, Andrew Goodeill, DPM, Christopher Van Damme, DPM, Amelia Harris, DPM, and Sina Safar, DPM — are focused on your long-term health and ensuring you live a long and active life.

Diabetes and foot care

Diabetes can make it difficult to care for your feet. Nerve damage is also common. In fact, around half of all people with diabetes have nerve damage, usually affecting the feet. 

Circulation also decreases with diabetes, making it difficult for blood to reach your lower extremities. Finally, a cut, blister, or sore could potentially become infected without you even noticing it. All of these issues can be severe for someone with diabetes. 

Foot care and maintenance are essential for people living with diabetes. And while many people think of their primary doctors, nutritional coaches, optometrists, or even dentists before podiatrists, when it comes to diabetes, your feet need to be a number one priority. 

7 reasons to have regular diabetes podiatrist appointments

1. Having your feet regularly checked

When you have diabetes, a small cut could go unnoticed and turn into something much worse. If you visit our team regularly, we can examine your feet to see if anything seems amiss. We will also be able to catch issues like cuts, scrapes, or blisters early to avoid infection. 

2. Demonstrations of self-checks

Of course, these appointments don’t take the place of your own daily self-checks. When you visit us, we’ll be happy to show you exactly how self-checks should be performed. 

3. Catching nerve damage before it happens

Nerve damage can’t be reversed, but it can be prevented. And if you’re visiting our team at least once a year — or more if your condition isn’t being properly managed — we help you recognize the signs of potential nerve damage before it becomes permanent. 

4. Learning the best at-home foot care practices 

Whether it’s how to cut your toenails, which moisturizers to use, or how to improve circulation, we offer tips and tricks so you can keep your feet looking and feeling healthy. 

5. Receiving footwear recommendations 

People who think all shoes are the same have probably never experienced chronic foot pain. The truth is certain shoes are better for certain feet, and some are better and safer for people with diabetes. We are happy to give you a recommendation for the best options. 

6. Having calluses or corns removed professionally 

If you have diabetes, you should never try to remove calluses or corns yourself. It’s always best to have it done with the help of a health care professional. 

7. Getting quick care for any foot-related changes 

If you notice something has changed with your feet — like suddenly developing cracked, flaky skin, toenails turning yellow, pain, or a loss of sensation — you need to see a podiatrist. And having one who’s already familiar with your medical history will make diagnosing issues much easier. 

Let us be part of your health care network

We’re happy to look out for your feet and to support you. To make an appointment at one of our Arizona locations, just book online or call today. We look forward to meeting you!