4 Reasons Diabetics Need a Podiatrist
As a disease, there are two known types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. If you have Type 1 diabetes, your body is only able to produce a small amount of insulin or no insulin at all. With Type 2 diabetes, your body can become increasingly resistant to insulin, making it difficult to produce the fuel necessary to keep you functioning. While Type 1 is known to have more serious health implications than Type 2, both disease types can result in the development of several other symptoms and conditions. In many patients, these symptoms and conditions tend to be felt first in the extremities, such as the hands and feet. When you have diabetes, this makes it all the more important to establish care with a foot specialist. Podiatrists are a vital addition to the medical team managing a diabetic patient’s care. Their specialized experience in foot and ankle care can help detect and treat problems that may arise which are outside of another physician’s realm of experience.
HERE ARE 4 REASONS WHY PODIATRIC CARE CAN GREATLY BENEFIT DIABETIC PATIENTS:
Diabetes can negatively impact the nerves in your extremities, resulting in abnormal nerve sensation, nerve damage, and diabetic neuropathy.
Patients with diabetes can have more difficulty fighting painful infections, which can result in lengthy treatment periods, more visits to the hospital, and in extreme cases, lead to amputation.
Diabetic patients can struggle with decreased skin health and experience dry, cracked skin more than the average person can. Skin conditions like ulcers, a common diabetic wound, are more likely to form in diabetic patients as well.
When you have diabetes, your risk of decreased circulatory health and the complications associated with poor circulation increase.
Contact James C. Ricketti, DPM and let us address all your foot and ankle needs. Our board-certified podiatrist will tailor treatments based on your individual needs and with our state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options, we’ll help you get back on your feet in no time! Call our office today at 609-587-1674 to make an appointment at our conveniently located Hamilton, NJ office.