Diabetic Neuropathy — What Can Your Podiatrist Do?

If you are a diabetic and have started to feel some tingling and numbness across your feet, then you should be reaching out to your podiatrist for some assistance. Diabetics are prone to injuries and healing is often an issue when blood sugar is high. If you want to know more about the types of things that your podiatrist can do for you, then keep reading.

Orthotic Creation

Many people with diabetic neuropathy will start to develop a different type of walk. And, over time, the feet will change shape. The most common change is the development of Charcot foot, where the arch completely collapses in and the midfoot bulges out towards the ground. This is the result of the patient walking on the inside or outside of the foot and causing extensive soft tissue injury. Walking on the toes is a common issue if you have diabetic neuropathy, and this will often cause the toes to bend inward or underneath the feet. 

To prevent injuries to the feet, your podiatrist can create orthotics for you. This creates support, structure, and balance so the natural walk can be maintained, which help to maintain the health of your feet. Unlike other foot conditions, solid orthotics are often needed instead of soft ones. Since you cannot feel your feet well, you may not be able to tell if you are walking differently. The solid inserts keep your foot positioned correctly to prevent gait issues.

Foot Inspections

If you have neuropathy, your doctor will teach you how to inspect your feet daily for any signs of injury. This is imperative to retain healthy feet that are free from infections. However, you may not be able to see every injury or problem. This is where your podiatrist comes in. He or she can complete thorough and complete inspections to ensure good foot health.

The podiatrist will look for the formation of bunions, corns, calluses, and blisters. Also, redness and other signs of skin breakdown will be noted and addressed before the skin tears or breaks. And, the professional will also gauge whether or not blood flow has been maintained well into the toes. If the capillaries are not showing good signs of blood flow, then treatments may be prescribed to prevent future problems.

Nails are also inspected and cut so they cannot poke or scratch the skin.

Contact a podiatrist in your area to learn more.