Diabetes

Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body is unable to use it properly. This can result in elevated blood sugar levels which can result in complications for your feet.

There are two common forms of diabetes

Type one, known as insulin dependent diabetes, usually affects children and young adults. If you suffer from this type of diabetes you will be familiar with daily insulin injections and that you should pay close attention to your diet and exercise.

Type two, known as non insulin dependent diabetes, is by far the most common condition and usually affects people over the age of 40 years. There are preventative steps that can be taken. Type two diabetes is controlled by diet, exercise and sometimes medication, be that tablets or injections.

The nerves in your feet and diabetes

Your feet have a multitude of nerves which act as a warning system. For example, if you have a stone in your shoe your nerves will normally send a message to your brain as a warning. However, if your diabetes is poorly controlled this can lead to nerve damage or ‘diabetic peripheral neuropathy’ which impairs sensation in your feet. If you suffer from nerve damage you may no longer notice a stone in your shoe due to the loss of sensation in your feet. This could lead to an injury which you cannot feel, and if left untreated could lead to an ulceration and or an infection.

Poor blood circulation and diabetes

Your feet are supplied with blood to keep them healthy. Blood brings energy to working muscles and helps to heal any tissue damage. When you have diabetes your blood supply can be reduced which can lead to poor circulation in your feet. If you suffer from poor circulation, any injury or infection which you incur to your feet such as blisters, cuts, burns or scratches can take longer to heal due to reduced blood flow. If left untreated an infection can spread and lead to amputation of your foot. If you suffer from poor circulation you will need to take extra care to protect your feet from injury.

Foot ulcers and diabetes

Foot ulcers are often a common complication of diabetic feet. Ulcers can become a portal for infection to enter the body and are usually caused by excessive pressure on an area of skin which then becomes injured. Ulcers can occur under corns and callus and not be noticed. If your circulation is impaired, healing can take months and sometimes years to occur. It is thus imperative that pressure is relieved from the injured site and appropriate wound dressings applied by a professional.

Stiff joints and diabetes

Diabetes can also make your joints (toes, ankles, knees) very stiff. In extreme cases of diabetes, numb joints of the feet can become very distorted as they collapse. These are referred to as Charcot Joints.

How to avoid complications with diabetic feet

  • Maintain an acceptable blood sugar level
  • Check your feet daily
  • Don’t smoke
  • Exercise regularly
  • Avoide walking in bare feet
  • Keep your feet clean
  • Wear well fitted shoes
  • Trim and file your nails carefully
  • Have your corns, calluses and other foot problems treated by a podiatrist
  • Have an annual diabetes foot assessment with a podiatrist to determine if your feet are at risk

Our Services

We provide the following podiatry services: sports injuries, children’s foot care, orthotics, shockwave therapy, nail surgery, video gait analysis & swift thermotherapy.

At Melbourne Podiatrist, we offer quality diabetes treatment to residents in Brunswick, Sandringham, Bentleigh, Hampton, Northcote, Essendon, Coburg & Mentone. If you would like more information about podiatry for Diabetes, please call our Brunswick Foot Clinic on (03) 9387 8555 or Sandringham Foot Clinic (03) 9555 6555 or click below to book online.

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