You may need a podiatrist on your healthcare team because people with diabetes often have poor circulation to their feet and nerve damage. This can make it difficult to feel cuts and sores, so you may not even know you have an infection until it’s gotten much worse.
Even though you’ll be doing tasks at home to keep your feet healthy, such as checking them daily for infections or sores, problems may arise that require the care of a specialist.
Don’t ignore or try to treat foot problems on your own. Call your diabetes care provider or podiatrist if you have
- Changes in feeling such as pain, tingling, numbness, or burning
- A puncture wound from stepping on a nail or thorn
- An open sore (called an ulcer)
- A cut or sore that isn’t healing
- An infection in a cut or blister
- A red, tender toe
You can ask for a referral to a podiatrist if you have more severe foot problems that your diabetes care provider doesn’t feel comfortable treating.
Podiatrists receive a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) from a college of podiatry. They gain expertise by doing residence training in podiatry and train to perform surgery and prescribe medication for your feet.