Is There Any Diabetes Podiatrist?
Question:
Is there a podiatrist specifically for diabetics?
Or are there only podiatrists who take care of people with diabetes and other patients too?
Quick Answer
Yes, many podiatrists treat diabetic foot problems, but they usually also treat other foot and ankle conditions.
Some podiatrists have special experience in diabetic foot care, including neuropathy, foot ulcers, calluses, infections, nail problems, circulation concerns, and wound prevention.
If you have diabetes, a podiatrist can be an important part of your diabetes care team.
Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc
Hello,
A podiatrist is a foot and ankle specialist. There is not always a separate official title called “diabetes podiatrist,” but many podiatrists focus strongly on diabetic foot care because diabetes commonly affects the feet.
What Does a Podiatrist Do for Diabetes?
A podiatrist can help check and treat foot problems that are more common in people with diabetes, such as:
- Nerve damage, also called diabetic neuropathy
- Foot ulcers or wounds
- Calluses, corns, and pressure areas
- Thick, ingrown, or infected toenails
- Poor circulation in the feet
- Footwear problems and pressure prevention
You may find this helpful: diabetes and feet.
Do All People With Diabetes Need a Podiatrist?
Not everyone needs frequent podiatry visits, but every person with diabetes should have regular foot checks. People with neuropathy, poor circulation, foot deformity, previous ulcers, nail problems, calluses, or difficulty checking their feet may need a podiatrist more often.
CDC guidance notes that podiatrists play a key role in detecting and treating diabetic foot problems, including nerve damage, joint damage, and blood vessel problems. Foot complications may be delayed or avoided with yearly comprehensive foot exams and proper treatment.
When Should You See a Podiatrist Urgently?
A person with diabetes should seek prompt medical care for:
- A foot wound, sore, or blister that is not healing
- Redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or bad smell
- Black, blue, pale, or cold toes or foot
- Sudden foot pain or new numbness
- An ingrown toenail with infection
Read more here: diabetes feet symptoms and diabetic foot ulcers.
Daily Foot Care Still Matters
Even if you see a podiatrist, daily foot care is important. Check your feet every day for cuts, redness, swelling, sores, blisters, corns, calluses, or nail changes. Wash and dry your feet carefully, wear well-fitting shoes, and avoid walking barefoot.
Important Foot Safety Note
Do not cut corns, calluses, or infected nails yourself if you have diabetes, numbness, poor circulation, or a previous foot ulcer. A small injury can become serious. Ask a podiatrist or healthcare provider for safe foot care.
Doctor’s Note
A podiatrist is not only for people with diabetes, but podiatrists are very important in diabetic foot care. If you have diabetes and any foot pain, numbness, wound, swelling, or nail infection, do not delay an examination.
Educational safety note: This answer is for general diabetes education only. It does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Foot wounds, infection, color change, severe pain, or numbness in diabetes should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Related Questions
- How does diabetes affect the feet?
- What are common diabetes feet symptoms?
- How should people with diabetes care for their feet?
- What should I know about diabetic foot ulcers?
- What does diabetic nerve pain feel like?
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Aygestin Blood Sugar Levels Affect?
by May
Question:
Is there a podiatrist specifically for diabetics?
Or are there only podiatrists who take care of people with diabetes and other patients too?
Quick Answer
Yes, many podiatrists treat diabetic foot problems, but they usually also treat other foot and ankle conditions.
Some podiatrists have special experience in diabetic foot care, including neuropathy, foot ulcers, calluses, infections, nail problems, circulation concerns, and wound prevention.
If you have diabetes, a podiatrist can be an important part of your diabetes care team.
Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc
Hello,
A podiatrist is a foot and ankle specialist. There is not always a separate official title called “diabetes podiatrist,” but many podiatrists focus strongly on diabetic foot care because diabetes commonly affects the feet.
What Does a Podiatrist Do for Diabetes?
A podiatrist can help check and treat foot problems that are more common in people with diabetes, such as:
- Nerve damage, also called diabetic neuropathy
- Foot ulcers or wounds
- Calluses, corns, and pressure areas
- Thick, ingrown, or infected toenails
- Poor circulation in the feet
- Footwear problems and pressure prevention
You may find this helpful: diabetes and feet.
Do All People With Diabetes Need a Podiatrist?
Not everyone needs frequent podiatry visits, but every person with diabetes should have regular foot checks. People with neuropathy, poor circulation, foot deformity, previous ulcers, nail problems, calluses, or difficulty checking their feet may need a podiatrist more often.
CDC guidance notes that podiatrists play a key role in detecting and treating diabetic foot problems, including nerve damage, joint damage, and blood vessel problems. Foot complications may be delayed or avoided with yearly comprehensive foot exams and proper treatment.
When Should You See a Podiatrist Urgently?
A person with diabetes should seek prompt medical care for:
- A foot wound, sore, or blister that is not healing
- Redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or bad smell
- Black, blue, pale, or cold toes or foot
- Sudden foot pain or new numbness
- An ingrown toenail with infection
Read more here: diabetes feet symptoms and diabetic foot ulcers.
Daily Foot Care Still Matters
Even if you see a podiatrist, daily foot care is important. Check your feet every day for cuts, redness, swelling, sores, blisters, corns, calluses, or nail changes. Wash and dry your feet carefully, wear well-fitting shoes, and avoid walking barefoot.
Important Foot Safety Note
Do not cut corns, calluses, or infected nails yourself if you have diabetes, numbness, poor circulation, or a previous foot ulcer. A small injury can become serious. Ask a podiatrist or healthcare provider for safe foot care.
Doctor’s Note
A podiatrist is not only for people with diabetes, but podiatrists are very important in diabetic foot care. If you have diabetes and any foot pain, numbness, wound, swelling, or nail infection, do not delay an examination.
Educational safety note: This answer is for general diabetes education only. It does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Foot wounds, infection, color change, severe pain, or numbness in diabetes should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Related Questions
- How does diabetes affect the feet?
- What are common diabetes feet symptoms?
- How should people with diabetes care for their feet?
- What should I know about diabetic foot ulcers?
- What does diabetic nerve pain feel like?
Click here to post comments or follow up
Ask the Doctor now? Simply click here to return to Diabetes medication side effects..
What is the Mirena Ha1c effect?
Question:
Is there any link between Mirena and blood sugar levels or HbA1c?
Quick Answer
Mirena is a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device, or hormonal IUD. In most women with diabetes, current evidence suggests that levonorgestrel IUDs have little effect on long-term diabetes control, including HbA1c.
However, every patient is different. If your blood sugar or HbA1c rises after Mirena insertion, do not assume Mirena is the only cause. Food, weight change, stress, infection, sleep, diabetes progression, pregnancy status, and medication changes may also affect HbA1c.
If you have diabetes, check glucose as advised and review any HbA1c change with your doctor or gynecologist.
Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc
Hello,
Yes, this is a reasonable question. Mirena contains levonorgestrel, which is a progestin hormone. Because hormones can sometimes affect insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, women with diabetes may wonder whether Mirena can raise blood sugar or HbA1c.
Does Mirena Usually Raise HbA1c?
For most women, Mirena is not expected to cause a major rise in HbA1c. The hormone is released mainly inside the uterus, so the whole-body hormone exposure is usually lower than with many oral or injectable hormonal methods.
Current guidance and studies suggest that levonorgestrel IUDs usually have little effect on short-term or long-term diabetes control, including glycosylated hemoglobin, also called HbA1c.
You can read more about HbA1c here: HbA1c explained.
What If HbA1c Increased After Mirena?
If HbA1c increased after Mirena insertion, it should be reviewed, but Mirena may not be the only explanation.
Possible reasons for a higher HbA1c include:
- Higher carbohydrate intake or weight change
- Less physical activity
- Stress, poor sleep, illness, or infection
- Diabetes progression over time
- Changes in diabetes medication or missed doses
- Other hormone conditions, such as thyroid problems or steroid medicine use
Compare your daily readings with this guide: blood sugar levels by time of day.
Should Diabetic Women Avoid Mirena?
Not automatically. Many women with diabetes can use a levonorgestrel IUD, but the decision should be individualized.
Your doctor will consider your diabetes type, HbA1c, blood pressure, weight, smoking status, kidney disease, eye disease, nerve disease, vascular disease, bleeding pattern, pregnancy plans, and personal preference.
What Monitoring Is Sensible?
- Check blood sugar as recommended by your diabetes care team.
- Repeat HbA1c at your usual interval, often every 3 months if control is changing.
- Report repeated high readings after Mirena insertion.
- Do not remove Mirena or change diabetes medication without medical advice.
- Discuss alternative contraception if you notice persistent glucose changes or side effects.
You may also find this useful: diabetes drug safety and side effects.
When to Call Your Doctor
Call your doctor if your blood sugar becomes repeatedly high, your HbA1c rises unexpectedly, you have heavy bleeding, severe pelvic pain, fever, foul discharge, pregnancy symptoms, or if you cannot feel the IUD strings when you were previously able to feel them.
Doctor’s Note
Mirena is not usually expected to cause a major HbA1c rise, but diabetic women should still monitor blood sugar and review changes with their doctor. If HbA1c increases, look at the full picture before blaming Mirena alone.
Educational safety note: This answer is for general diabetes education only. It does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis, contraception counseling, or treatment. Do not remove an IUD or change diabetes medication without speaking with your healthcare provider.
Related Questions
- What does HbA1c mean?
- How do I convert HbA1c to average glucose?
- What should blood sugar be by time of day?
- What should I know about diabetes drug safety?
- What are the benefits and side effects of diabetes medications?
Click here to post comments or follow up
Ask the Doctor now? Simply click here to return to Diabetes medication side effects..