Learn How A Podiatrist In Orland Park Helps People With Diabetes

By Marie Wilson


A doctor of podiatric medicine is generally known as a podiatrist or foot doctor. This physician diagnoses and treats all kinds of diseases, disorders or injuries that affect the lower legs, ankles and feet. This professional also treats diabetes related conditions. Foot care for individuals with diabetes is a commonly overlooked aspect of diabetes management. If you have diabetes, you can benefit immensely if you consult with a podiatrist in Orland Park.

Caring for your feet is essential, especially if you suffer from diabetes. If problems arise, you should visit a foot doctor at once. Higher levels of blood glucose may damage the nerve endings in many organs and parts of the body. This is the reason why tight blood glucose control is an important aspect of diabetes care.

Diabetes can lead to nerve damage, which is called peripheral neuropathy. The complications related to peripheral neuropathy can affect the feet. Diabetes also affects circulation, leading to reduced healing capacity. Diabetes may also make the joints stiffer. Therefore, podiatry is important for people with this ailment.

If foot disorders fail to be diagnosed and treated promptly, many problems can arise. Some of them include foot infections, foot damage, foot ulcers, Charcots joints and amputation. The role that podiatrists play in the prevention and treatment of foot complications in people with diabetes is important. They can assist patients at any stage.

By seeing a podiatrist regularly, you can prevent amputation. The key to preventing an amputation is early detection of problems. Regular foot screenings such as one or more times per year from a podiatric physician is helpful. You may also need to see a podiatric physician every two to three months so that he or she will closely monitor the problems you have.

You should also be keen to notice anything that might indicate the onset of foot problems. These signs should prompt you to see an Orland Park podiatrist with immediate effect. They include swelling of the foot, changing skin pigmentation, leg pain, and skin temperature elevation. Others include bleeding calluses or corns, ingrown or fungal toenails, and slow healing sores on the feet and cracks around the heel.

Ulcers are a common occurrence in people with diabetes. They should be monitored and treated carefully by a foot doctor. Shoes that do not fit well or something trivial like a stocking seam may create a wound that you may not feel if your skin sensation is diminished. If not treated, such a wound can become infected fast and lead to more serious problems.

A Podiatric physician knows what can be done to prevent wounds. He or she can help you keep your feet strong and healthy. Some of the products that podiatrists use to treat wounds have the handling and appearance of human skin. They apply the products to properly prepared wounds to enable faster healing. Podiatrists in Orland Park, IL are extensively trained to treat different foot issues by both surgical and medical means.




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