What Happens During A Diabetic Foot Exam?

If you have diabetes — and especially if you are an older adult with diabetes — your doctor will probably recommend seeing a podiatrist for periodic diabetic foot exams. These exams are intended to ensure any problems with your feet are detected early so they can be treated and managed more easily. But what will happen during a diabetic foot exam? Here are the major checks and procedures you can expect a podiatrist to carry out.

Checks for blisters and other injuries.

A podiatrist will typically begin by examining the feet for any sores, blisters, or injuries. If you do develop any of these injuries as a diabetic, they can take a long time to heal because of poor circulation. They may also be prone to infection due to the slow healing. As such, if your podiatrist does discover any sores, they may recommend an antibiotic cream or even oral antibiotics to prevent infection. They may also suggest some changes to your routine, such as wearing different socks, to prevent more of the same type of injury from forming.

Checks for nerve damage.

Nerve damage in the feet is also really common in diabetics. To check for nerve damage, your podiatrist will likely touch different spots on your feet and see how you react. If they do find any evidence of nerve damage, they may refer you to a neurologist for further evaluation. They'll also let you know what parts of your foot are most affected so you can watch out for injuries in these particular areas.

Toenail trims.

Most podiatrists will also trim your toenails when you go in for a diabetic foot exam. This is done to ensure your toenails keep growing in the right direction, reducing the risk of ingrown nails. Ingrown nails can be a serious problem for diabetics because of the increased risk of infection.

Callus exfoliation.

If you have calluses that are bothering you, then you should ask your podiatrist to take care of them during your diabetic foot exam. It is not a good idea to file your own calluses as a diabetic, since even a minor injury could be detrimental. 

As a diabetic, it is really important that you keep up with your foot health. Part of that is visiting your podiatrist for regular exams. Depending on your health and age, you may be asked to have these checks annually or even every couple of months. For more information, contact a clinic like MARLBORO PODIATRY CENTER INC.