Study: Visiting the Podiatrist Can Save You Over $13k

Currently there are over 23 million people in the United States with diabetes, with an additional six million people with diabetes who are not diagnosed.

If you’re a diabetic, you may want to start scheduling routine foot checks, because a study by the American Podiatric Medical Association found that diabetic foot care could save you thousands of dollars in the long run.

According to the study, those who visited a podiatrist for diabetic foot care saved an average of $13,474 versus those who didn’t seek care.

It is estimated that 25 percent of diabetics will develop foot ulcers, which is an open sore or wound typically located at the bottom of the foot. These ulcers often become infected or do not heal, which can result in amputation, especially if the patient has not sought treatment.

Proper diabetic care begins with visiting your podiatrist for routine foot checks. Routine foot checks are important because even the most minor scrape, cut or blister can develop into an ulcer. Diabetic patients often don’t realize they have an ulcer because one of the side effects many diabetics experience is losing feeling in their feet, also known as peripheral neuropathy.

Diabetic patients can also maintain proper foot care at home through daily foot inspections in between appointments. Cleaning your feet with soap and water, inspecting the underside of the foot, as well as using topical moisturizers, are the best way to maintain healthy skin and prevent the breakdown of the skin on your feet.

In addition, diabetic shoes have shown to help prevent foot ulcers. The Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam revealed that diabetic sufferers who wore customized diabetic shoes lowered their risk of developing new ulcers by 57 percent as opposed to those who didn’t.

Diabetic shoes are designed to help alleviate the pressure applied to these points, which lessen the amount of rubbing on the pressure points of your feet. In addition, diabetic shoes help increase blood circulation in the feet and relieve pain associated with diabetes.

However, diabetic shoes or at-home inspections are not a cure-all for diabetic foot care and diabetic ulcers, as it doesn’t replace the need for consistent diabetic foot evaluations and check-ups. Physical exams, x-ray evaluations, wound care (if necessary), and laboratory tests are all highly recommended to ensure the preventions of ulcers and diabetic-related foot problems.

To schedule your diabetic foot evaluation, please click here to request an appointment or call 366-379-6990.

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