Diabetes is a condition which requires care from a network of specialists in order to be best managed. The role of a podiatrist in the diabetic team is to provide expert diagnosis and treatment for foot and ankle issues. Diabetic foot wounds, amputations, and infections are a growing issue, and proper education and exams can help to catch problems before they become severe.
I would say tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and heel spurs are very frequent problem which runners suffer from. Due to limited time of this discussion I will focus on tendonitis as this is a painful condition that often frustrates many athletes because it tends to prevent them from being able to enjoy their activity and makes it difficult to maintain their fitness.
I would say by far the two biggest problems I see are:
Ingrown toenails and Planter Fasciitis (heel pain, heel spur). In this interview I will discuss ingrown nails and will discuss heel pain in next interview due to limited time.
An ingrown nail occurs when the toenail is pushing on or digging into the skin at the side or end of the toe. It typically starts as a mild redness, inflammation, or mild pain. Usually it will get worse with time and can become infected. If left untreated, in can progress into an abscess, infection, and in rare occasions serious bone infection requiring surgery. It is critical to get the nail evaluated as soon as possible to prevent complications.