Why You Need a Podiatrist on Your Diabetes Management Team

Each day diabetics face the difficult issue of lower limb amputation as a direct result of complications from diabetes. That’s why it’s so important to take the best possible care of your feet if you’re living with diabetes. Foot issues and blood sugar problems go hand in hand. November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and today Dr. Mark Thompson and Dr. Brandon Holloway of Amarillo Foot Specialists located in the Amarillo, TX panhandle are sharing information about why people with diabetes need a podiatrist to help manage their condition.

High Blood Sugar: Glucose is your body’s chief source of fuel, but it poses a risk when it mixes in the bloodstream at high levels. If you’re diabetic, your body has to struggle to regulate blood sugar on its own. This makes glucose-lowering medication and dietary changes vital to your health. If your blood sugar stays elevated, nerve damage (neuropathy) can occur, which stops nerves from directing the correct signals to your brain.

Neuropathy: Diabetic neuropathy typically affects the nerves in the lower parts of the body. With this condition, patients often experience numbness and tingling in their feet and legs. Over time, they’ll begin to lose feeling, which makes it harder to know if there is a problem in your lower extremities. For instance, if you get a cut or scratch on your foot and don’t feel it, you won’t get it treated.

Decreased circulation: Peripheral artery disease occurs when the blood vessels become narrow, and blood flow is reduced. Diminished blood flow to the lower extremities is dangerous for diabetics. Small bruises and cuts can turn into big problems, and less serious wounds can take longer to heal, and infection can set in, compounding the problem.

Why Your Podiatrist is an Important Part of Your Diabetic Care Team

As part of your diabetic care team, we can help you reduce the risk of severe foot complications. We are trained to identify small problems and treat them appropriately and promptly to prevent them from escalating.

Also, you must check your feet at home daily to keep them healthy. At your appointment, Dr. Mark Thompson and Dr. Brandon Holloway of Amarillo Foot Specialists located in the Amarillo, TX panhandle can discuss the best way to care for your feet at home to reduce the risk of complications. Contact us today at (806) 322-3338 to schedule a consultation.