DIABETES FOOT CARE
Diabetes is an ever-growing problem in our community, affecting 1.7 million Australians and is more prevalent as we get older. Uncontrolled diabetes causes damage to blood vessels and nerves supplying the feet. The end result is that around 15 percent of people with diabetes will experience foot ulceration and amputation.
With diabetes, no foot injury is trivial. Even small cuts, sores or blisters can have serious consequences, and it can be harder to heal or resist infection.
It’s not all doom and gloom though, regular podiatry care can significantly improve foot health and can prevent diabetes related amputations.
It’s important that all people with diabetes care for their feet to the best of their abilities. By being proactive you can avoid serious foot problems simply by inspecting your feet every day. If you notice cuts, scrapes or other damage to the skin notify a healthcare professional right away.
Here’s some simple tips to maintaining good foot health:
- See your podiatrist regularly for maintenance of your skin and nails, and monitoring for pressure areas
- Wash and dry your feet thoroughly every day and ensure special attention is taken between the toes
- Closely examine your feet daily paying particular attention to any marks, spots, cuts, swelling or redness that is not normal. (A well placed mirror may help)
- Never walk barefoot
- Choose correctly fitted shoes with enough room for your toes and good support.
- Choose cotton socks with no elastic in the tops. These will absorb sweat and reduce pressure at the top of the sock line
- Each year attend a Podiatry Diabetes Foot assessment
Remain proactive when caring for your feet and with daily precautions and treatment after injury, you can continue to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle.
Diabetes Foot Assessments
Diabetes Australia recommends you review your foot health status, the level of risk you are under and the precautions you should take. As specialists in this field, qualified podiatrists use diagnostic tests to assess your sensation, circulation and biomechanical risk factors, then place your results within the bigger picture of your overall health. Following your assessment, the results will be forwarded to your GP and diabetes specialists.
Your feet are supplied with blood, pumped from your heart through arteries and capillaries, to keep them healthy. They also have a network of nerves that act as a warning system and to move your muscles. For example, if you have a stone in your shoe, nerves in your feet will tell your brain. People with high blood sugar levels, or who have had diabetes for a long time may develop:
- Nerve damage, or “peripheral neuropathy”, which impairs sensation to the feet.
- Reduced blood supply, also known as “poor circulation”. Reduced blood supply can also be caused by smoking.
- Ulcerations to the feet from pressure sores not being detected and being slow to heal due to poor circulation. This can lead to a life-threatening infection and ultimately amputation.
- Charcot Foot – a massive degeneration of the joints of the feet which can lead to a permanent deformity and lack of mobility.
Nerve damage to your feet can mean that you no longer notice the stone in your shoe. This could then lead to an injury you can’t feel, and possibly infection.
If you have poor circulation, any injuries or infections to your feet (i.e. cuts, burns or scratches) will take longer to heal. This is due to less blood flowing into the arteries in your feet.
Most foot problems in people who have diabetes occur when injuries and often infections go unnoticed and untreated, or when healing is delayed due to poor circulation.
A six or twelve monthly foot assessment by your podiatrist is recommended by Diabetes Australia. We will help to detect any changes early before they become a problem. In a diabetes assessment your podiatrist will examine your circulation. They will examine sensation by testing reflexes, vibration and pressure sensitivity. Your podiatrist will also look for general foot conditions and the shape of your feet that may lead to future problems. They will work with you to show you how to monitor your own feet, in between consultations.