Here’s Why You Need To See A Podiatrist If You’re Diabetic
If you have diabetes, chances are you were or will be asked by your doctor to see a podiatrist or a foot doctor. Hearing it may seem weird at first, but you should probably obey your GPs because your condition and your foot are connected more than you know.
But before we delve into the details of what they do to help anyone with diabetes, let’s understand the disease and its types first.
If you have Type 1 Diabetes, it means that you have very little to nothing-at-all production of insulin in your body(1). Your pancreas’ beta cells, which are responsible for insulin, may be damaged. People who have Diabetes Type 1 are advised to undergo insulin replacement therapy to restore their normal insulin levels.
Type 2 Diabetes, on the other hand, means that there’s merely a lack of insulin. The body produces low amounts of insulin, but there’s still some. This type of diabetes is often manageable by committing to a healthy diet and closely monitoring your lifestyle.
Lastly, Gestational Diabetes. This type often occurs in pregnant women. It happens when the hormones produced by the placenta (which are catalysts for the baby’s growth) prevent the insulin in normalizing the high sugar levels in the blood.
This type usually disappears after giving birth. But often, mommies who have had gestational diabetes have a higher chance of acquiring Type 2 diabetes later on. But like mentioned above, it is manageable through diet and exercise. Medication or insulin injections might also be needed, depending on the person.
Read: Diabetic Diet Plan
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Why See A Podiatrist If You’re Diabetic
Diabetes can significantly affect your body in several and complex ways(2). For example, the spike in the amount of sugar within your bloodstream can affect the nerves and blood supply to your feet. Reduced blood flow causes loss of sensation and minimizes the healing ability of your feet—which can be problematic for you in the future.
