Why Diabetic Foot Care Should Include Regular Visits to a Foot and Ankle Specialist

When you have diabetes, you must manage your blood sugar levels, insulin, diet, and feet. The Renaissance Foot & Ankle Center in Greenbelt, MD, serving Prince George's County, including Bowie, MD, provides diabetic foot care. Dr. Aparna Duggirala and Dr. Alan Deroy are your trusted podiatrists who handle several foot issues, including the unique needs of diabetic patients.

What Do Diabetics Have to Look Out for?

Proper foot care should be a daily part of any diabetic’s routine. This chronic condition can damage blood vessels and cause peripheral nerve damage that affects the extremities. As a result, patients may lose feeling in the lower limbs and be unaware of cuts or bruises that are festering into worse conditions. In addition to numbness, feet may have tingling or burning pain.

A person with diabetes must practice proper foot cleansing and drying to prevent fungal growth. Avoid walking barefoot to prevent injury or fungal infections, especially on public floors in gyms and pools.

Look out for discolored skin that may signal blood vessel damage. Ulcers can form and worsen without care. A small cut can become infected due to slower wound healing from nerve damage.

If you have an ingrown toenail, look for signs of infection, such as throbbing pain, swelling, bleeding, or pus. Let your foot doctor know if ingrown toenails are a common occurrence.

How Can a Podiatrist Help a Diabetic Patient?

While providing diabetic foot care in Greenbelt, MD, serving Prince George's County, including Bowie, MD, the Renaissance Foot & Ankle Center will guide you on home care. During exams, your doctors can detect problems early and prevent complications like infections. Unmanaged infections can result in amputations ranging from the toes to the leg. Your podiatrist often works with your primary care doctor to ensure comprehensive diabetic care.

Your doctors can remove painful corns and clip ingrown toenails during a pedicure. As a result, you won’t risk injuring your feet by removing them yourself. Get advice and footwear to protect the feet from injury. 

To protect your feet, podiatrists can fit you for orthotics: inserts inside your shoes. Orthotics are tailor-made for your feet and the condition doctors intend to treat.

Contact Us Today

At Renaissance Foot & Ankle Center in Greenbelt, MD, serving Prince George's County, including Bowie, MD, you have quality diabetic foot care. Dr. Duggirala and Dr. Deroy are caring podiatrists who have worked with many patients with diabetes to help them maintain healthy feet.

To learn more about your foot needs and make an appointment, call us at (301) 441-2655.