Podiatric Association for Diabetes Club

The idea of any medical club or organization is to develop a mechanism for health professionals from a variety of backgrounds to come together for the patients we serve. Activities and organizations such as our Podiatric Association for Diabetes expand our thinking upon the idea that treating a patient goes beyond the foot and our knowledge can and should include care for a person’s overall health. According to Hartford Medical Group, foot problems affect as many as 70% of people with diabetes. The Podiatric Association's events, organized by President Cody Brush and Director of Clinical Affairs Amanda Pajouh, include lectures on topics this semester such as the treatment of diabetic ulcers with regranex gel and mobile hyperbaric chamber. Moreover, the organization's activism goes beyond the walls of our school to become involved in Northeast Ohio through its support for an ever-growing diabetic population in events such as the Walk To Stop Diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most complicated chronic disorders presenting challenging issues in both treatment and management of complications of the disease. Such complications of the disease are extensive as it can create severe damage to multiple organs involving eyes, heart, kidneys and feet. Most of these complications are not well controlled by the patients, which result in significant morbidities, disabilities and mortalities. Therefore, podiatrists expertise is needed by the American population as the training can be effectively utilized in acute and chronic care of foot. When it comes to wounds that won’t heal and requires amputation, the foot becomes a major area of concern.

The most prevalent foot problems that people with diabetes face are two serious complications of the disease: nerve damage and poor circulation. Foot infections are commonly associated with diabetes.  Affected individuals with diabetes can no longer feel something that has irritated or even pierced through their skin. No matter how small or superficial a wound is, you should not ignore it if you have diabetes as it can spread and within bony structures culminating in osteomyelitis. In the doctor-patient relationship, a cooperative understanding must be established. A patient who does not become enlightened about the knowledge bestowed upon the current podiatrists and hopefully one day us the students with our education and training will have to face consequences such as the amputation of toes, partial or whole foot creating life long disabilities.

Injuries to the bones in the foot with fractures can result in Diabetic Charcot foot with destruction of foot and ankle joints.  When a diabetic patient fractures a bone in the foot, he or she may not realize the problem because of nerve damage. An individual continuing to walk and apply pressure on the injured foot can further complicate the issue into more severe fractures and joint dislocations. Diabetic foot problems are a major health concern and are a common cause of hospitalization and disability.  One of the more critical foot problems that these complications can cause is charcot arthropathy, which can deform the shape of the foot and lead to disabilities. Podiatrists with their valuable training in dealing with foot-related issues should be more involved in the diabetic foot care for patients than any other health care provider.

            The involvement of podiatric medicine in patients lives should not only be focused on strictly surgical procedures, but it should also extend into long-term foot care including periodic visits of patients to podiatrists to monitor any progression of the disease and timely interventions such as the requirement for diabetic footwear. This should distinctly separate the role of podiatrists in foot care management from orthopedists and other health care providers in emphasizing the need of podiatric diabetic foot care in the chronic care of diabetic patients. Through creating a presence of advocacy for such issues as diabetes in our school, we will develop the habit of effectively applying our education through dialogue and discussion at events, conferences, and meetings associated with the profession of podiatric medicine. Such interactions amongst us at these occasions and social functions will prepare us for future conversations with patients whose health and quality of life depend on it.