Diabetic Feet - How A Podiatric Diabetic Assessment Can Help You

What is Diabetes?

The treatment of Diabetic Feet is becoming an important area for specialist Podiatry treatment.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that is characterized by either an absolute or a relative deficiency of the pancreatic hormone, insulin and or insulin resistance. This loss of insulin function causes abnormal metabolism of carbohydrate, fat and protein and the patient develops: Hyperglycaemia and Glycosuria

Great care must be taken in the care of your Diabetic Feet

So how can this affect feet?

One of the early changes in the feet is loss of sensation, which usually affects the toes first in Diabetic Feet. This is known as peripheral neuropathy. This then can develop into painful neuropathy, which causes a painful burning sensation in the feet. In the latter stages when the nerves are affected you can develop clawing of the toes, making the feet more susceptible to fractures and other conditions may develop.  

How can a Podiatrist help in The Treatment of Diabetic Feet?

Gary will give your feet a complete check over, which will include: - correct cutting of the nails, removing all the corns and hard skin which may be prone to ulcerating, and because of loss of sensation you may be unaware of this.  Gary will also check the pulses, take a thorough medical history and check for loss of sensation. This will help Gary to class your Diabetes as a low, medium or a high risk category. Patients with high risk Diabetes are 30% more likely to develop foot ulceration, which can lead to gangrene and loss of limb or life. During this process you will also be given information about your Diabetes, which can act as a self help guide.  It is important that you have a regular foot check at least once a year, but ideally on a more regular basis.

Tip-Therm temperature test.

Monofilament glove and stocking sensation.

Tuning Fork vibration test

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