Do you have a foot problem that you are now asking if it is due to diabetes? Of course, it is normal to have such feelings. But can a podiatrist tell me I have diabetes by a simple glance at my feet? We proceed further to discuss in detail the role of a podiatrist and the link between foot injury and diabetes.
Who is a podiatrist?
A podiatrist is a medical practitioner who focuses on diagnosing and treating foot-related ailments. They diagnose and treat conditions such as diabetes that manifest through the feet.
Sometimes, a leg injury that takes a long time to heal is one of the signs of diabetes. This is why people are now asking, Can a podiatrist tell if one has diabetes?
Can a podiatrist tell me I have diabetes?
Yes, they can detect. The podiatrists take an x-ray of your feet when you go to them for foot pain or any other foot issues like ulcers and sores.
One of the common signs of diabetes is sores on the feet that are slow to heal. In addition, the feet are always prone to developing infections. Most of the time, people suffering from diabetes can develop poor circulation, and a physician can check this through simple experiments.
Take note that podiatrists cannot diagnose diabetes in a patient just through an examination of the patient’s feet; instead, it is done with references to early signs and other techniques.
Diabetic patients should pay much attention to their feet, as high levels of blood sugar affect the feet and lead to complications. High levels of glucose may harm nerves and blood vessels; this situation causes diabetic neuropathy and peripheral arterial illness. These conditions predispose the patient to foot injuries.
Not only must people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels, but foot care is also essential for them. Cuts, blisters, sores, or other skin irregularities are something that cannot be overlooked.
Another factor to consider is the type of shoes. Diabetic patients should wear comfortable shoes and socks with no tightness so as not to trap pressure or cause blisters. In addition, it is dangerous to walk barefoot—this applies to walking within the home as well as outside.
Things a Podiatrist Checks for When Diagnosing Diabetes
When someone has diabetes, a podiatrist can assess whether diabetes may be the cause. Here are some ways they diagnose diabetes:
- Physical Examination
The physical examination is always carried out in diabetic patients as an initial screening tool to diagnose diabetes. A podiatrist will then examine the feet properly. They will also compare their present blood circulation or the physical conformation of feet for any complications related to diabetes.
- Signs of poor circulation
This is the presence of a cold feeling in the feet, causing a weak pulse and changes in skin color. One of the worst secondary effects is the formation of foot ulcers. These open sores, in the worst cases, can lead to amputation of the limbs.
- Neurological Testing
Diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage, is also among the issues that patients with diabetes suffer from. A podiatrist may conduct several tests to access the nerves of the feet. This could include:
- The Monofilament Test: Which involves threading a thin filament beneath the skin so that the sensibility of the various aspects of the foot can be ascertained.
- Vibration Perception Test: Check the existence of a sensation of vibration in the feet using the tuning forks.
- Nerve Conduction Studies: These tests show how efficiently electrical currents pass through the nerves, and they can also indicate nerve injury.
- Blood Tests
Podiatrists also carry out blood tests to tell if an injury is linked to diabetes or not. Fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C or oral glucose tolerance tests could be prescribed by the podiatrists. Such tests assist in diagnosing a person with diabetes or with the possibility of developing the disease.
Hemoglobin levels, cholesterol, triglycerides, platelets, and blood sugar levels also help podiatrists make the best foot care plan for the specific health situation of a patient. Skin Biopsy Depending on this, podiatrists may advise a skin biopsy in the diagnosis of other complications, inclusive of diabetic foot ulcers.
In this test, a small amount of tissue is removed from a wound or lesion to check for infection, inflammation, or nerve damage. This instrument gives comprehensive information on the state of the foot and/or the level of damage and allows specialists in the field of podiatry to decide how further injury may be prevented.
- Foot Pressure Mapping
Other diagnostic procedure a podiatrist can use to tell if a person has diabetes is foot pressure mapping. This technology records pressure points under the feet during standing or walking, and areas of high pressure represent vulnerable areas that predispose to injury or deformity.
High-pressure areas in the foot can result in foot ulceration or neuropathy in diabetic patients. Thermography Thermography is an infrared assessment of skin surface temperature alterations, with more weight on blood flow.
This procedure does not require injection of substances into the skin and helps podiatrists recognize areas of inflammation, infection, or tissue necrosis.
Diabetes mellitus is a medical condition that affects blood circulation, and in thermography, abnormalities in the feet, such as infections and poor circulation, are detected early.
Self-Management
People with diabetes must take very good care of their feet, as there are many risks associated with the disease. Its consequences include foot ulcers and foot infections, and in severe cases, the patient may lose the foot completely.
Surprisingly, those complications have measures that can be taken to avoid them. Doppler Ultrasound Doppler ultrasound is a noninvasive method that podiatrists use to measure blood flow in the foot.
Diabetes also causes peripheral artery diseases where there is reduced blood flow to the limbs; therefore, such body parts are most likely to develop foot issues.
Specifically, Doppler ultrasound helps podiatrists to see blood flow through the arteries and any signs of blockages or decreased blood flow, which indicate PAD. This means that through early identification of circulation problems, podiatrists can begin particular care that will help to address the problems.
Diabetes Care: Some Basic Guidelines to Managing Foot Problems
To avert foot complications, constant attention and foot hygiene should be maintained. Here are some practical tips to help you protect your feet:
1. Inspect Your Feet Daily
One should look for any signs of cuts, sores, or changes in color or temperature of the skin. Preventing more severe forms of illness from manifesting is a healthy tip that can help prevent diabetes or manage the condition.
Therefore, to do this, make sure that your feet are clean and properly moisturized. Wash your feet with mild soap and warm water. When the skin is dry, use a moisturizer to avoid skin cracking, but do not put the lotion between your toes in order to avoid fungi.
2. Wear proper footwear
Ideally, wearing undersized shoes is not good. So, shoes should be of the correct size and comfortable shoes that also have cushioning and support on the soles. Do not wear high heels or compact shoes that may cause blisters on the feet.
3. Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise such as walking or swimming may help increase the circulation of the feet and lessen the danger of developing a condition. On the same note, normal exercising is also helpful in the general control of diabetes.
4. Go for foot checkups
Foot checkups with a podiatrist should be done at regular intervals. This is not about doing your ‘pedicures’. Podiatrists can notice certain problems before they become critical. When they see an injury that may lead to further complications, they inform the person to take action immediately.
Read also: Can A Misregulation Of PFk-1 Cause Diabetes?
What do podiatrists do in treating diabetes?
Podiatrists are not the regular medical doctors you see in hospitals or theatres; however, they are doctors with a specific role in managing wounds linked to diabetes. Diabetes raises the risk of both nerve problems and blood circulation issues in your feet, which podiatrists can help address to avoid issues such as ulcers and infections.
They ensure that that small cut on the feet that appears like a small problem does not develop into a serious issue. Diabetes patients should visit a doctor as soon as they develop symptoms of foot complications, for instance, inflammation, increased tenderness, or discomfort. Since the wound is chronic, it is always prone to getting aggravated and leading to further complications.
Conclusion
Diabetes patients should not wait for complications to develop in the feet before acting on the problem. The above prevention tips and measures are easy and sometimes efficient in preventing these problems.
However, a frequent checkup with your podiatrist can help prevent diabetes. In addition, it is important if you are diabetic to wear appropriate shoes and try to move your feet occasionally so that the blood will circulate.
Can a podiatrist tell me I have diabetes? Yes. However, it may require other methods, such as a blood test. If you have any injury that is taking time to heal, it is time to see a doctor.
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