More than 34 million Americans have diabetes, a metabolic condition that affects the way your body converts sugar from the food you eat into energy. Diabetes is common, and it poses serious health risks, such as poor circulation, nerve damage, and chronic foot wounds.

If you have diabetes, you’ve probably heard that proactive foot care is important. People with diabetes are at increased risk of developing foot problems, because poor circulation and numbness from nerve damage can make it hard to identify cuts, blisters, and other types of injuries.

Those injuries can get worse without proper care and eventually lead to slow-healing wounds, severe infection, and even amputation. These complications can significantly impact your health and well-being, making preventive diabetic foot care absolutely essential.

Our team at Mountain View Foot & Ankle Institute in South Ogden, Utah, is here to help. David B. Glover, DPM, FACFAS, offers comprehensive diabetic foot care. In this blog, Dr. Glover explains why you should have a podiatrist as part of your care team if you have diabetes.

Preventive diabetic foot care

Having diabetes increases your risk of developing serious foot problems, such as ulcers, slow-healing wounds, and other complications that can reduce your mobility. But, when you see a specialist for diabetic foot care, you increase your ability to keep your feet as healthy as possible.

Getting preventive care, including routine foot exams, is one of the best ways to identify potential problems early and avoid diabetic foot problems. During a preventive foot exam, Dr. Glover looks at your feet and toes to check for:

  • Blisters
  • Corns and calluses
  • Cuts
  • Nail problems
  • Redness
  • Swelling

Along with doing an exam, our team educates you on caring for your feet at home. We can show you how to properly inspect, wash, and dry your feet to lower your risk of developing diabetic complications. If you have foot pain or mobility issues, we can discuss shoe inserts or custom orthotics to help protect your feet.

Trimming your toenails properly is important, too. Nails that are too long or sharp can increase your risk of injury. However, if circulatory or mobility issues make trimming your own nails difficult, we can trim them for you.

Dr. Glover recommends that patients with diabetes come to the office a minimum of once a year. However, many people benefit from more frequent visits. So the number of times we recommend that you come in will depend on your condition and health.

Expert management of diabetic foot conditions

While preventive care can reduce your risk of developing diabetic foot complications, specialized care becomes even more important if you do develop compilations. Dr. Glover and our team offer a range of treatment options for infections, wounds, and other common issues.

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common diabetic complications that affect the feet. Symptoms often include tingling, pins-and-needles sensations, burning, or numbness in feet. To manage neuropathy, Dr. Glover may recommend lifestyle changes and taking medication.

Diabetic foot ulcers are another possible complication of diabetes. Foot ulcers and other slow-healing wounds are complex, and they require professional care. Dr. Glover and our team offer wound treatment, including cleaning, dressing, and monitoring to promote healing.

We take a comprehensive approach to diabetic foot care. Depending on your symptoms, we create a treatment plan that may include custom orthotics or footwear, antibiotics, and other therapies to lower your risk of developing diabetic complications.

Have you seen a diabetic foot care specialist lately? If you haven’t, book an appointment online or over the phone with Mountain View Foot & Ankle Institute today.