Diabetic Feet
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What is Diabetic Foot Care?
Diabetes can progress to affect both a patient’s blood flow and nerve function. As the feet are the furthest part of the body from your major organs, they are the first to be affected and are key to identify early signs that the disease is progressing. There are two main types of diabetes both linked to genetics, therefore can be passed down through generations.
Type One Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder which is usually diagnosed before 30 years of age.
Type Two Diabetes is the most common type of diabetes which can be genetic and can also be associated with lifestyle and obesity. Type two diabetes is usually diagnosed later in life.
At MK Feet Podiatry Clinic, we aim to prevent more serious complications and progression through the use of regular foot checks and routine care. Something as small as breaking the skin while cutting your nails at home or having a blister from shoes can lead to serious complications without the necessary intervention. Due to the high sugar levels in the blood, this can prevent or delay the wound from healing, which increases the risk of infection.
How To Check Your Feet
It is crucial that those with Diabetes schedule time each day to inspect their feet; this will enable problems to be noticed and solved immediately. Perfect moments to check feet can be when putting socks on in the morning or getting ready to jump into bed in the evening. Keep a careful eye out for any dry or cracked skin, blisters or sores, redness or tenderness and lastly, ingrown toenails or corns.
Did you know?
- Over 4 million people in the UK have a diagnosis of diabetes.
- Approximately 45% of patient with a foot ulcer die within 10 years of developing the ulcer.
- Having an amputation caused by diabetes can have a worse prognosis then being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Things you can do at home:
- Wear white socks, (you can clearly identify any breaks in the skin)
- Wear seamless socks.
- Feel the inside of your shoes for small stones or objects before putting them on.
- Cream feet daily to prevent cracks and reduce callus build up.
- When buying shoes, use card to draw around your feet to ensure they are both wide and long enough.
- See a podiatrist regularly for foot checks including neurological tests to check the feeling in your feet and vascular checks to test the blood flow to your feet.
Diabetic Feet Statistics
Every 30 seconds somebody in the world has an amputation.
In the UK 4.6 million people have a diagnosis of diabetes.
Approximately 45% of patient with a foot ulcer die within 10 years of developing the ulcer.
Treatments
As fully trained specialists in Diabetic Foot Care, our podiatrists are able to provide the following treatments.
Vascular Assessment
Assessing foot and leg circulation.
Neurological Assessment
Assessing nerve problems (neuropathy) and numbness
Assessment of Toe or Foot Deformities
Deformities are treated with splints, orthotics, insoles.
Assessing and Treating Nail Problems
Also included are corns and callouses, along with ulcerations and infections.
Antibiotics If Required
Antibiotics can be provided if required to speed up the healing process.