The Care Diabetics Should Expect From Their Foot Specialist

Diabetics have special needs when it comes to their feet, as many serious complications can occur that may force a diabetic into the hospital with a foot infection (which may end up leading to an amputation). Diabetics should expect an expert level of medical care when it comes to their feet, as many of these complications can be prevented or controlled long before hospitalization needs to be considered. This article will discuss what diabetics should expect from their foot care specialists (podiatrists), and why each of these components are important.

Comprehensive Foot Examination and Routine Diabetic Foot Care

A full diabetic foot evaluation several times a year is a necessity for a diabetic, and this even may need to be performed every 9-12 weeks depending on the presence of certain risk factors. These risk factors include the presence of diabetic nerve disease (neuropathy), calluses, poor circulation, foot deformity (like bunions and hammertoes), a! history of prior wounds, or prior partial amputation of the foot or toes. With this evaluation, a program of diabetic foot care education and reinforcement of self-care practices at home should be included to help diabetics keep their feet healthy at home or in public. Routine diabetic foot care should be a part of these regular visits to control the factors which seem to lead to infections and amputations. When a diabetic has nerve disease (which may not even be noticeable to them), the likelihood of developing skin wounds from simple acts like cutting one's own nails or trimming one's own calluses is fairly high. Routine diabetic care, which should include nail trimming and ongoing removal of all callus tissue as it thickens, will help to reduce this risk. Since most foot wounds in diabetics develop from areas of high pressure where calluses are found, the simple act of regular callus care can dramatically reduce the incidence of diabetic wounds.



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