Diabetic Foot & Ankle Conditions
A podiatrist is a foot care specialist. To test for nerve damage, the podiatrist may place a tuning fork to the foot to determine whether you can feel vibrations. The podiatrist may touch your foot with a wire filament or a pinwheel type of screening tool to determine if you can discriminate between sharp and dull sensations.
People with diabetes often develop circulation disorders of their legs and feet due to atherosclerosis and blockages to their arteries. Symptoms include cramping in the calf or buttocks when walking. When the blood flow to the feet is reduced, oxygen and nutrients needed for normal maintenance of the skin, bones, muscles, and ligaments of the foot are restricted. This reduction prevents healing after an injury and contributes to damage.
Most people take their feet for granted until something goes wrong. A person suffering from diabetes, should not wait until they are in pain to think about their feet.
