Diabetic Foot Care: 5 Essential Benefits of Regular Podiatry Check-Ups

With the cooler months of fall on the horizon, many people have the upcoming holidays on their mind. If you have diabetes, you may also be aware that November is American Diabetes Month – the ideal time to step up your diabetic foot care game.

At Adler Foot and Ankle in North Miami Beach and Hallandale, Florida, we offer a full scope of high-quality podiatry services, including routine foot checks to minimize your risk for diabetic complications.

Our board-certified podiatrists also provide services like wound care to address diabetes-related issues early, so you can avoid permanent damage to your toes, feet, and ankles.

The effect of diabetes on your feet

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body converts sugar into energy. When diabetes isn’t properly controlled, sugar levels in your blood remain high, which can lead to nerve damage, also known as diabetic neuropathy.

Poorly functioning nerves in your lower extremities cause a loss of sensation, which can increase your risk for cuts and other injuries that go unnoticed. In some cases, small cuts can progress into difficult-to-treat ulcers that might ultimately lead to tissue death, gangrene, and the eventual need for amputation of the toes and/or feet.

Ideally, people with diabetes should thoroughly check their feet daily at home and schedule regular diabetic foot checks with our podiatrists. Professional foot evaluations help identify problems before they get worse to protect the long-term health of your toes and feet.

5 benefits of regular podiatry checkups

In addition to preserving your lower limbs, podiatry checkups offer several other benefits for people with diabetes. Here are five essential benefits these check-ups have to offer:

1. Educational resources

Even when your feet are healthy and injury-free, podiatry exams give you access to resources you can use to keep your lower extremities in great shape. Our providers teach you how to care for your skin and toenails. We also offer resources to ensure your diabetes stays controlled.

2. Routine foot maintenance

If you’re unable to care for your feet properly due to health complications, our podiatry team can help. We offer toenail trims and other services to keep your feet in good condition. 

Our physicians can also recommend custom orthotics to correct foot alignment issues that may increase your risk for blisters and calluses — two common foot issues that can set the stage for wound formation in diabetic patients.

3. Track changes from one visit to the next

Because of the toll diabetes can take on your feet, it’s important to keep track of all changes in your foot health. Our comprehensive foot exams ensure that even minor changes are noted and addressed early to prevent further complications.

4. Proactive care for minor conditions

As mentioned, people with diabetes have a higher risk of complications from minor problems like blisters and calluses, which may turn into a more serious situation more easily.

Our team can identify minor issues like cuts, ingrown toenails, calluses, and corns early. We also create custom care plans to help your feet heal fully before infections have a chance to develop or permanent tissue damage occurs.

5. Comprehensive treatment for more serious issues

If you have a sore that’s evolved into a diabetic ulcer, our podiatrists collaborate on a treatment plan to support wound healing. We use advanced techniques to clean and dress wounds and can also provide medications to clear or prevent infection. 

Regular podiatry checkups give our physicians an opportunity to monitor wound healing, so you can avoid more invasive treatments and ultimately, protect and salvage the affected limb and reduce the possibility of needing a life-saving amputation. 

Schedule your diabetic foot care visit today

Are you due for a diabetic foot care exam? Call your nearest Adler Foot and Ankle office in Hallandale or North Miami Beach, Florida, to schedule a visit today. You can also use our easy  online booking feature to make an appointment at your convenience.