Why You Ought to Be Seeing a Podiatrist If You Have Diabetes

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FROM HANNAH ROPP

diabetes is a complex condition and can affect almost any part of your body, and your feet are no exception. Podiatrist Samantha Newstadt, DPMWith Coordinated Health, part of the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), they explain why taking care of your feet is so important when you have diabetes.

Why people with diabetes should keep an eye on their feet

According to Newstadt, many people with diabetes develop some degree of neuropathy or nerve damage in their legs or feet, which leads to loss of sensation. “In this case, there is a higher risk of injury without knowing it. If left untreated, even small injuries can lead to something more important, ”she says.

Newstadt says another reason people with diabetes are more prone to having problems with their feet is that many have an element of vascular disease in their lower extremity that can also contribute to complications.

What can you do to prevent diabetes-related foot diseases?

The good news is there is a lot you can do to prevent this from happening Diabetes-related foot disordersstarting with a podiatrist. “If you have diabetes, it is important to see a podiatrist and visit them regularly. A podiatrist can evaluate any changes in your vascular health or the development of neuropathy, ”she says.

She also recommends checking your feet daily for breaks or changes. She also discourages her patients from going barefoot. If you don’t want to wear shoes or slippers, she suggests wearing white socks so that a break in the skin can be more noticeable.

Finally, Newstadt advises caution when it comes to clipping your toenails. If you have neuropathy, you may not notice a small cut that can turn into something more if you are not careful. In fact, she has many patients who regularly cut toenails.

For more information about Newstadt and the services it offers, see LVHN.org/SMNewstadt.

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