Can A Podiatrist Help With Diabetic Foot And Wound Care?

Are you suffering from diabetic foot or wound care issues and aren't sure what to do? Are you wondering if diabetic foot ulcers can heal on their own? Are you looking for diabetic foot care after surgery? Finding a podiatrist who specializes in diabetic foot care is the first step. Here are some questions every person with diabetes should be asking their podiatrist and some tips for maintaining healthy feet.

What is a Podiatrist?

A podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in foot and ankle care. While most people know that a podiatrist can prescribe medicine, perform surgery, and diagnose diseases related to the feet, many are not aware of all the other ways their services can benefit patients.

A podiatrist in Columbia, MD, is a foot and ankle specialist with a four-year doctoral degree (DPM) from an accredited podiatric medical school. After graduating from one of nine accredited schools in the US, doctors must complete three years of post-graduate hospital training focusing on comprehensive medical and surgical treatment of the lower extremity. They train at various hospitals during this time, such as Harvard Medical School's Brigham and Women's Hospital or Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Northeastern University's Boston Campus combined residency program.

Finding a Podiatrist

When looking for a podiatrist, the first thing to consider is finding one who has experience in diabetic foot and wound care. That means they should be well-versed in the proper way to clean, dress, and apply medication to your ulcers. They will also know the best ways to prevent infections if you have open wounds or sores on your feet. Start by asking your primary care physician for recommendations. Your insurance provider's website may also have information about doctors in your network who specialize in podiatry.

Ask friends and family if they have any recommendations, especially if they live nearby. You can also ask your local pharmacist as well, since they may know of good podiatrists in the area from filling prescriptions for diabetic shoes or socks. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) website has a tool that allows you to search for doctors in your area based on their specialty and what kind of school they attended. The APMA says that all available podiatrists listed on their site are accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME). You can search for an accredited doctor near you using their tool here: https://www.apma.org/findapodiaitst

Once you've found a few options, call them up and ask fundamental questions about their background and experience with diabetic foot care before scheduling an appointment to know what to expect when you arrive.

What do Podiatrists Specialize in?

Podiatrists are specialists in caring for the feet and ankles. They diagnose and treat foot and ankle injuries, diseases, and deformities. Podiatrists can also prescribe medications to treat these disorders and provide advice on topics such as health education, nutrition, rehabilitation exercises, footwear, orthotics (devices to support or correct the function of your foot), or surgery.

More specifically, podiatrists often perform surgeries on bunions (bony bumps at the base of your big toe that force it out of alignment with the rest of your foot), hammertoes (a condition where one or more toes bend upward instead of lying flat as they should), corns (thickened areas of skin often found on the tops or sides of toes), calluses (areas of hard skin that sometimes develop on the feet), ingrown toenails (when a nail curves down into the flesh underneath it), plantar warts (warts on the bottom of your feet), Morton's Neuroma (a thickening around a nerve that causes pain in between two toes).

How can a Podiatrist Help with Diabetic Foot Care and Wound Care?

Podiatrists provide many treatment options for diabetic foot conditions and can assist with the most severe wounds. When you have diabetes, it's essential to take good care of your feet and get any problems checked out by a podiatrist as soon as possible.

How Often Should You See a Podiatrist?

If you have a healthy foot, you should visit your podiatrist for a routine appointment once per year. However, suppose you have a specific condition your podiatrist wants to monitor or a foot-related problem such as an injury or ingrown toenails. In that case, they may ask you to schedule more frequent appointments.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a big deal, and it affects every system in our bodies, including our feet. It's not just that diabetes can cause nerve damage, leading to reduced sensation in your feet. The condition also lowers immune system function, affects blood flow, and causes changes to the structure of your skin. Because diabetes works on the body, people with diabetes may be more prone to foot ulcers and complications from chronic wounds. No matter how careful you are with your feet, there's always a chance something could go wrong.