Diabetes is a common chronic condition that affects about 1.7 million Australians, which is a huge percentage of the population. Of those suffering, many have had it for decades and have watched the condition get progressively worse in their feet and legs. Because your feet are the furthest extremity from your heart, this will only get worse. That causes many additional side effects which is why podiatry diabetes treatment services are so vital to your healthiness as you age.
Why Are Older Diabetes Patients More Likely To Suffer From Leg Problems?
Diabetes gets progressively worse the older you are, and eventually, it often affects the nerves in your body. This can cause numbing, swelling and pain in your legs and feet that is constant and needs daily management. Podiatry treatments monitor your condition, provide lifestyle tips that can help improve your quality of living and generally make sure that you don't unknowingly put yourself at risk. Because of the degradation of your nerves, it is not uncommon for older sufferers to develop sores or slight cuts that develop into something life-threatening due to diabetes.
How Will Diabetic Podiatry Care Help Me Avoid These Problems?
Often, these nips and bruises that develop into something serious come from something as simple as cutting your toenails or corking your leg on a table. As part of a general treatment of older sufferers of diabetes, most podiatrists will cut your toenails, treat corns, measure the pulse in your feet and check the overall health of your feet and legs. Then they might ask you to walk for a little bit in front of them to see if your gait might be causing undue stress on one leg or the other. If that is the case they can also prescribe orthotics to ease this stress.
I Am Not Sure If I Can Afford The Treatment, Can Medicare Help Me?
There are many different ways that older sufferers of chronic conditions can get help with the financial cost of treatment, and that includes diabetic podiatry care. When you visit with your primary care doctor, ask them if you are eligible for the chronic disease management program. If so, you will be eligible for at least five free trips to the podiatrist a year, which is often enough to manage your feet going forward. You can also get the medicare rebate if you end up needing more diabetic podiatry care, and there are several organisations set up to help arrange financial assistance for those in need that you can apply to.
From a morning ache in the heel to persistent forefoot pain when walking, foot pain comes in many different forms. Most people find it difficult to work out what is causing the pain and decide what to do to resolve it.
The posts on this website can help you understand how the foot functions and what can go wrong with it to cause pain. In addition to suggesting stretches and footwear changes that might help, they can also let you know when you need to see a podiatrist for specialist help.
Don't put up with foot pain. Read our posts and then reach out to a podiatrist to get the relief you need.