People with diabetes are at a higher risk for serious health complications involving the feet, including neuropathy, chronic skin ulcerations, vascular disease, and infections. As diabetes progresses, the nerves and blood vessels in the feet become damaged, leading to loss of sensation and poor blood flow. If left unmanaged, these complications can lead to chronic wounds, infections, and amputation.

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Podiatrists are doctors who specialize in foot health, and they are an invaluable addition to your diabetes management team. In fact, seeing a podiatrist can reduce your risk of amputation up to 85% and reduce your risk of foot-related hospitalization up to 24%!

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Podiatrists are often the first to notice changes in your foot condition, and they offer treatment plans and preventative care to help slow the progression of diabetes-related foot complications.

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What Can a Podiatrist Do For Me?

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Although your primary care doctor might briefly inspect your feet while you’re in the office, they are not specialists and might not pick up on subtle changes to your feet that could indicate a serious problem.

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When you visit a podiatrist, the doctor dedicates your entire appointment to your feet. Here are just a few ways these specialists care for your feet.

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• Preventative Care: Your podiatrist’s first goal is to prevent new injuries and infections from developing. Routine care, like nail clipping, can be performed in the office, along with detailed assessments of your mobility, gait, and skin health.  

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• Treatment: If you have an existing injury or infection or are diagnosed with a new complication, your podiatrist will have the necessary skills and supplies to get the condition under control so you can be on your way to healing.

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• Education: Chances are you won’t be able to see your podiatrist every month for routine checkups, so having a specialist who can offer valuable advice for managing your foot health at home is especially important. Podiatrists can direct you toward reliable resources and tools that make caring for your feet a little easier.

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Preparing For Your Appointment

When you make your appointment with your podiatrist, it is a good idea to arrive prepared to get as much from your visit as possible.

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• Write down any questions you want to ask: As you get closer to your appointment, start making a list of questions you might want to ask your doctor. Writing them down means you won’t forget anything important, which could save you a phone call or email after the fact.
• Wear the right shoes: Your podiatrist will want to look at your feet while you’re in the office, so make sure you can easily remove your shoes. Closed-toe slip-on shoes or sneakers with velcro closures are a good option.
• Arrive a few minutes early: Some offices might need a few extra minutes to check you in before your appointment. Make sure to get to the office 5-10 minutes early, so your appointment isn’t cut short.

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What To Talk About With Your Podiatrist

During your appointment, your doctor will ask you a series of questions about your health and perform a detailed assessment of your feet. Here are a few things you and your podiatrist might discuss while in the office.

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• Daily Foot Care: Your podiatrist should review the steps of performing care to your feet each day, including daily foot checks and how to properly wash, dry, and moisturize your feet.
• Protecting Your Feet: You and your doctor should talk about how to keep your feet protected from injury. Proper footwear and temperature monitoring socks are excellent ways to ensure your feet are safe from wounds and infections.
• Spotting Signs of Complications: Because people with diabetes often lose sensation in their feet, noticing the signs of injury and infection can be difficult. Your doctor can help you understand how to recognize the early signs of diabetic foot complications so you can seek care before a serious issue arises.

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Siren Can Help You Find a Podiatrist

Siren has partnered with podiatrists across the country to help bring groundbreaking foot care to people with diabetes. Siren-certified podiatrists can prescribe our clinically-proven temperature monitoring socks, which detect the early signs of diabetic foot complications and reduce the risk of infection and amputations.

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Click here to have a member of our team connect you with a Siren provider near you.

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