Our Annandale foot doctor urges anyone with diabetes to have a foot health exam once a year with an experienced podiatrist. Your yearly foot exam is important for two primary reasons. First, your podiatrist can make sure there are not any existing problems with your feet that need attention. Second, your doctor can also help ensure that your feet are functioning properly to avoid any future problems.
Why Should You See Your Annandale Foot Doctor Every Year?
Because diabetes can cause your blood sugar level to remain elevated for long periods of time, your body can subsequently be damaged in a variety of ways. One area of your body that is most susceptible to diabetes-related problems is your feet. Our Annandale foot doctor is here to discuss the two most common issues that arise: peripheral neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease.
What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is a common problem faced by diabetics in which their feet lose sensation. If you suffer from peripheral neuropathy, you may not be able to feel pain, heat, or cold in your feet. As a result, you may not be aware if your foot has received an injury such as a cut, scrape, or burn.
When you don’t realize you have an injury, you also won’t know that your foot needs special care. As a result, you face a higher risk of foot infection and other complications when an injury is not treated.
What Is Peripheral Arterial Disease?
Peripheral arterial disease, according to our foot doctor in Annandale, VA, refers to the reduction of blood circulation in your limbs, including in your legs and feet. Poor blood circulation can cause injuries to take longer to heal, because not enough oxygen reaches the injured part of your body.
If you combine peripheral arterial disease with peripheral neuropathy, you can end up with an unnoticed injury that is also not healing properly. You can reduce your risk of serious infection, however, by working closely with an experienced podiatrist like ours at The Podiatry Center. Be proactive about your health and schedule your annual foot exam today!
The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about this and other topics related to podiatry, feel free to contact The Podiatry Center, with a convenient podiatry office near Annandale, VA, by clicking here or by calling 301.656.6055.
