queens podiatrist

Are systemic diseases within the
scope of podiatric practice? Can a
podiatrist treat diabetes by
giving insulin?

In New York, any foot condition
can be treated within the scope
of podiatry. If a patient presents
with numbness in their feet or
poor circulation in their feet, this
could be related to high glucose
levels. A New York Podiatrist is
licensed to treat the diabetes or
high blood sugar in a patients
foot so long as they explain to
their patient that they are not
licensed to treat any other part of
the body. If a podiatrist
prescribes insulin and this has a
positive effect on other parts of
the patients body, the podiatrist
has to
clearly explain that they are not
treating any other part of the
body other than the foot. The
definition of a systemic disease
such as diabetes is a foot disease
that affect the nerves blood
vessels joints, in a patient's foot.
The definition of systemic is any
nerve vessle or osseous
structure. The foot consists of
different systems.
Therefore it is within the scope of
podiatry to treat any diseases
occuring in the nervous, vascular
and osseous systems existing in
the foot. Just because these
systems are located in body
parts other than the foot does
not mean that a podiatrist's foot
insulin treatment cannot "affect"
these other body parts so long as
the podiatrist is "treating" a foot
symptom, condition or even an
objective finding occuring in the
foot.
Ironically the foot is probably the
first body part affected and so
this is the first body part needing
treatment
of the systemic disease
"diabetes in the foot". The
podiatrist tells the patient that
they are only treating
the "diabetes in the foot" and
that such foot treatment may
have affects on other body parts
that they are
not licensed to treat. There are
those who feel that podiatrists
are not propperly trained to treat
the systemic disease of diabetes
in the foot. I feel formal training
is not needed so long as
adequate current competence is
gotten by having a podiatrist
prescribe insulin and to have that
podiatrist either go to the
internet and or call for help from
an endocrinologist or internist
who may advise them on how to
go about this.
Training and experience is not as
important if the patient was
treated propperly and if the
documentation is
present showing that such
propper treatment occurred. If a
podiatrist asks for help from MD's
on how to go
about this such a podiatrist
gradually gains experience at
prescribing Insulin for the foot
diabetes. Furthermore if a
complication occurs that
podiatrist has an MD they can
turn too for advice. Just
remember that in New York a
podiatrist is not a physician and
cannot treat any other
part of the body other than the
foot. Treatment of foot diabetes
can affect other body parts. I feel
it is
wise to tell the patient to see
their own Medical Doctor to treat
the diabetes occuring in other
parts of the body. The patient
may turn around and say why
should I go if my blood sugar is
normal.
The podiatrist then says well I am
not licensed to treat any other
part of the body other than the
foot and I am advising you to see
a medical doctor to treat the
other parts of your body. You can
then call the medical doctor and
inform them of the dose of insulin
you put the patient on to treat
the
systemic disease of foot
diabetes.

podiatrist1@optonline.net

Daniel Chaskin DPM

disclaimer: Do not rely on any of
the above opinions but consult
with a licensed health care
attorney in your state.