Diabetes & Podiatrists

Podiatrists are specialists in treating problems with the foot, ankle and lower leg. They are usually solo-practise so that they only concentrate on podiatry, but there are also a number of clinics that double up to specialise in podiatry and orthopaedics or podiatry and diabetes. The combination of diabetes and podiatry specialization occurs due to the increased risk of developing problems with your feet, ankles and lower leg if you are diabetic. This is due to the fact that you will have a reduced sensation in your feet (due to nerve damage and the reduced blood supply caused by your diabetes) which can lead to the development of numerous foot problems. For example, if you are diabetic you are at higher risk of developing complications from simple foot trauma such as ulcers and increased spread of infection and diabetes is the leading cause of amputation. So, if you are diabetic and have particular problems with your feet (such as ulcers) then you may be referred to a podiatrist who will be able to give you advice on how to better care for your feet to reduce your risk of complications (such as gangrene) and treat any current problems that you have.

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