Diabetic Podiatrist in Birmingham, AL
People with diabetes who have recently been diagnosed, or who have been living with it for years, will find it easier to cope with the condition if they manage it as an overall health issue, not only as a blood glucose matter. When focused primarily on controlling blood sugar levels, patients may overlook the necessity of diabetic foot and ankle care.
Diabetes affects the feet in several ways: Some of those inconvenient—others that can lead to significant diabetic nerve damage in feet or even amputation. Keeping diabetic feet warm, dry, and free from wounds is vitally important to maintaining movement and reducing or eliminating pain.
A family physician is essential to helping patients manage their diabetes, from administering insulin and making dietary adjustments to the professional care of associated issues, such as diabetic foot care. While widespread in occurrence, specific aspects of diabetes require attention by a specialist. In the case of diabetic foot care, that's a diabetic podiatrist. Foot Specialists of Birmingham provide high-quality diabetic foot care right here in Birmingham, AL.
Finding a Podiatrist Diabetes Specialist Near Me
If you have diabetes, your general practitioner may suggest that you see a diabetic podiatrist. Do not assume this means they will immediately provide a referral or suggest a suitable foot specialist for you. Given that your feet are crucial to mobility, take this task on yourself; be proactive and waste no time finding a diabetic podiatrist.
Foot Specialists of Birmingham is an experienced diabetic podiatrist clinic based in Birmingham, AL that can answer your questions and concerns about treating conditions like diabetic wounds and damaged nerve endings in feet. You can count on Dr. Linde for honest diagnosis and prognosis, and safe, reliable treatments. Never put the onus of care on an unqualified professional, online resource, or personal intuition.
Have questions about treatment options? Dr. Linde handles a range of questions about diabetic foot care, like:
How do I take care of my diabetic feet?
Prevention is always the preferred goal when treating diabetic feet. The fact of the matter is that once nerve damage (neuropathy) has occurred, there is no means of reversing that, as the body is incapable to naturally regenerate nerve tissues. However, there are methods for avoiding damaged nerve endings in feet and ways in which diabetic podiatrists can treat your diabetic feet.
Some tips? Check your feet daily, carefully examining them for issues like cuts and blisters, unusual swelling or unhealthy toenails. Seemingly minor matters such as these can lead to larger foot problems in the future.
Ensure that you bathe your feet gently every day, using lukewarm water, patting dry (not rubbing vigorously); diabetic foot care flushing needs to be done with the utmost care. Be certain that your feet are completely dry. If they are very sweaty, you may wish to apply an antiperspirant to the soles.
Preventative measures include:
- tipping out shoes to ensure any debris that might have gotten in them is cleared;
- ensuring your feet stay dry in wet weather;
- never walk barefoot;
- refrain from smoking as this restricts blood flow to your feet;
- moisturize your feet, but never between your toes as a fungal infection may develop;
- if your feet are cold, wear socks, and do not use a heating device such as a pad or hot water bottle.
Most importantly, pay regular visits to a Birmingham diabetic podiatrist like Dr. Linde. He is trained to notice small changes like wounds not healing, cracked heels, ingrown toenails, bunions, corns and calluses that seem innocuous. All these can signal, and help lead to, severe diabetic nerve damage in the feet. Proper diabetic wound care of the feet can help prevent more extreme diabetic foot care consequences.
What type of shoes should people with diabetes wear?
As a general rule, avoid wearing shoes with just bare feet. Wear clean dry socks, preferably diabetic designed ones (they provide more cushioning than regular socks, and are made from materials that wick moisture away from feet, keeping them dry and comfortable). Also, consider purchasing diabetic footwear that is designed to relax pressure on your feet and reduce rubbing.
Specifically designed diabetic footwear will help your feet stay warm and dry, protect them from potential injury, and make walking easier; your pain will be less pronounced and you can enjoy taking a stroll. Exercise helps, but it needs to be low-impact: A pleasurable walk in good diabetic footwear can help lower your pain and improve your positive mental attitude.
Don’t care to wear medical shoes inside the house? Then try a pair of antimicrobial slippers at home.
What will a foot specialist do to help me have better diabetic foot health?
Careful foot examinations will help the diabetic podiatrist accurately assess the current status of your diabetic feet and identify potential problem areas. Seemingly minor conditions, such as a cut or slight swelling, could be warning signs for larger problems ahead. Again, the goal is prevention where possible.
A diabetic podiatrist, such as Dr. Linde, is your go-to specialists for the ongoing, regular care of diabetic feet. If you have diabetes, ignoring your foot health isn't wise. They may not seem to have the importance of regulating blood sugar, but they are integral to managing your condition. Rely upon qualified, experienced diabetic podiatrists to ensure diabetes causes minimal impact to your life and lifestyle, and to provide expert advice in pain management related to your diabetes. Book your appointment hassle-free today.
How long will my visit take?
Dr. Linde’s Birmingham office asks patients to allow for 45 minutes per visit, and on the first visit to arrive 10 minutes early so as to complete the necessary new patient paperwork.
What are the tactics used to restore my feet and ankles?
If the neuropathy is extensive, options will be limited, but the range of treatments can improve your mobility, pain, and discomfort.
The doctor will suggest and/or prescribe treatments that will help heal current issues and help prevent future ones. He may teach you how to properly and safely cut your toenails (straight across and then file the corners and edges), or recommend diabetic foot care flushing. If you have tingly feet, he may begin to implement a program that works to slow down potential nerve damage. As noted before, once nerve damage is done, it cannot be reversed—only treated. Treatment may include vitamin supplements, physiotherapy, diabetic wound care, braces or splints, and direction for low-impact exercise such as swimming (but dry your feet immediately after leaving the water).
Can I regain feeling in my feet when I see a podiatrist?
It depends. We know that once nerve damage is advanced, it is not reversible. This being said, research continues to be done; it brings promise along with it. A slight tingle can be an indicator that there's further trouble ahead. However, it may be possible to control the sensations of tingling and numbness by avoiding certain things, and help manage symptoms so it doesn't get worse.
Exercising, keeping in good health, refraining from smoking, and eating properly will all contribute to keeping nerve problems at bay, but trying to handle this on your own is more than overwhelming.
One thing is certain: a proper diabetes podiatrist knows diabetes-related facts and solutions that you, nor unvetted resources, may not. Each case of diabetes is unique to the person who suffers from it. With proper management of the condition and diabetic podiatrist intervention, people with diabetes can live long, fulfilling lives, enduring much less pain and live upheaval.
Contact Dr. Linde’s office at Foot Specialists of Birmingham today for diabetic foot or ankle care. Our Birmingham, AL foot doctors can help make the management of your diabetes easier, less stressful, and less intrusive to the way you'd like to live.
