Living with diabetes puts constant pressure on your feet, even when you feel nothing is wrong. Nerve damage can hide pain. Poor blood flow can slow healing. Small cuts can turn into deep infections or even bone loss. Regular podiatry visits give you early warning. A podiatrist checks your skin, nails, circulation, and nerve feeling. You get clear steps to prevent wounds, deformities, and falls. You also learn how to trim nails, choose shoes, and spot danger signs before they spread. Without this care, you face a higher risk for ulcers, hospital stays, and amputation. Some patients only meet a foot specialist after a crisis, such as Achilles tendon surgery in Maryville, IL , or a severe foot infection. You deserve to act sooner. This blog explains why scheduled podiatry visits should be a core part of your diabetes plan, not an afterthought.
How Diabetes Changes Your Feet
Diabetes harms your feet in three main ways. First, nerve damage can cause numbness. You may not feel a blister, burn, or stone in your shoe. Second, poor blood flow can slow healing. Even a small sore can stay open. Third, changes in bone and tendons can shift how you walk. That can cause pressure points that break the skin.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that about half of people with diabetes have some nerve damage in their feet.
When you put these changes together, your feet are in quite a bit of danger. A cut does not hurt. A sore does not close. A shoe rubs the same spot every day. That is how a simple problem can grow into a deep ulcer.
Why Regular Podiatry Visits Matter
You see your diabetes doctor for blood sugar checks. You also need a podiatrist for regular foot checks. A routine visit often includes three parts. First, a skin and nail exam. Second, a nerve and circulation test. Third, a review of your shoes and daily habits.
During these visits, the podiatrist can:
- Find calluses, corns, and thick nails before they cause sores.
- Check pulse and skin warmth to spot poor blood flow.
- Test your feeling with a soft filament or tuning fork.
- Trim nails safely and remove dead skin.
- Teach you how to inspect your feet at home.
You may feel fine. You may walk without pain. You still need these visits. Lack of pain does not mean your feet are safe. It can mean your nerves have already lost feeling.
How Often You Should See a Podiatrist
The American Diabetes Association and many clinics use risk levels to guide visit timing. Your risk can change over time. Here is a simple guide.
| Low | No loss of feeling. No ulcers. Good blood flow. | At least once per year |
| Moderate | Mild loss of feeling or poor blood flow. Hard calluses. | Every 3 to 6 months |
| High | Past ulcer, amputation, or severe deformity. | Every 1 to 3 months |
Your own doctor or podiatrist may suggest a tighter schedule if you have kidney disease or poor vision. You should ask what risk level you are in and write it down.
Preventing Ulcers and Amputations
Foot ulcers are open sores that do not heal. These sores raise your chance of amputation. A study shared by the National Institutes of Health shows that most diabetes related amputations start with a foot ulcer.
Regular podiatry visits help you prevent ulcers in three key ways.
- You get early removal of thick calluses that can crack and bleed.
- You learn which shoes support your feet and which put pressure on them.
- You receive quick treatment for small cuts and blisters.
Once an ulcer forms, care becomes hard. You may need special boots, daily dressings, or even time off work. You might need a hospital stay for an infection. Early podiatry care keeps you away from that path.
What Happens During a Typical Visit
You can expect a calm, step-by-step process. First, the podiatrist asks about your blood sugar, past foot problems, and current pain or numbness. Next, you remove your shoes and socks so both feet can be checked.
During the exam, the podiatrist may:
- Look between your toes for soft skin or fungus.
- Check your heels for cracks.
- Press on your toenails to see if they are thick or ingrown
- Use a soft filament to see where you can feel a light touch.
- Check pulses on the top and inner side of your feet.
Then you talk about what to do at home. This plan may include daily foot checks, lotion for dry skin, and changing shoes or socks. You leave with clear, simple steps.
How You Can Protect Your Feet Between Visits
Regular podiatry care works best when you also protect your feet every day. You can use the rule of three.
- Look. Check your feet every night. Use a mirror or ask someone if you cannot see well.
- Cover. Wear clean, dry socks. Wear shoes indoors and outdoors. Avoid bare feet.
- Act. Call your podiatrist if you see redness, swelling, drainage, or a sore that lasts more than one day.
You should also keep your blood sugar as close to your goal as you can. Good blood sugar control helps slow nerve damage and promotes wound healing. Your diabetes team can guide you with food, movement, and medicine.
When to Seek Urgent Foot Care
Some changes need fast care. You should contact your podiatrist or go to urgent care if you notice:
- A new sore, blister, or cut that does not improve within 24 hours
- Redness that spreads or feels warm
- Swelling in one foot or leg
- Black, blue, or gray skin on any toe or part of your foot
- Sudden severe pain or sudden loss of feeling
- Fever with any foot wound
Quick care can mean the difference between a short course of antibiotics and a major surgery. You should never wait and see when it comes to a diabetic foot change.
Making Foot Care Part of Your Diabetes Plan
You manage many parts of diabetes at once. Blood sugar checks. Eye exams. Kidney tests. Foot care must stand beside these, not behind them. You can add foot care to your routine in three steps. First, schedule regular podiatry visits based on your risk level. Second, build a daily habit of checking your feet while you brush your teeth at night. Third, keep one clean, safe pair of shoes for most of your walking.
Your feet carry you through work, care for your family, and simple moments like walking across your home. You protect that strength every time you sit down with a podiatrist. Regular visits are not extra. They are part of staying whole with diabetes.
