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.
