Diabetic Foot
Chronic Pain and Dysfunction.
Have you ever wondered how you developed particular probems or pain? Do you repeat the same injuries or have patterns of injury such as left or right side or seem to have a weaker part of your body? The answers may not be a complex as you think. Our Podiatrists are particularly skilled in diagnosing underlying causes present in each person, that can lead to injury or illness.
Diabetes and associated Foot Problems
Is 4400 amputations a big enough number to make you think about foot health and diabetes.
Today around 12 people have a diabetes-related amputation. Then tomorrow 12 more amputations.
85% of these amputations are preventable, if alterations are detected early and managed effectively.
How Diabetes can affect your feet
Diabetes is a lifelong condition which can create complications in the feet. Some of these issues can arise due to the nerves and blood vessels supplying the feet becoming damaged.
Is 4400 amputations a big enough number to make you think about foot health and diabetes.
12 people today will have a diabetes-related amputation. Tomorrow there will be 12 amputations.
85% of these amputations are preventable, as long as changes are detected early and managed effectively.
How Diabetes can affect your feet
Diabetes is a lifelong condition which can create complications in the feet. Some of these issues can arise due to the nerves and blood vessels supplying the feet becoming damaged.
Peripheral Neuropathy / Nerve Pain
The peripheral nervous system is the nerves outside the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). There are three main types of nerves within the peripheral nervous system:
- Sensory nerves – provide sensations, such as pain and touch
- Motor nerves –controlling muscles
- Autonomic nerves –regulates automatic functions of the body, such as blood pressure and sweat production
Signs of peripheral neuropathy
- Tingling and numbness
- Burning, stabbing or shooting pain in affected areas
- Loss of balance and co-ordination
- Muscle weakness
The peripheral nervous system is the nerves outside the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). There are three main types of nerves within the peripheral nervous system:
- Sensory nerves – provide sensations, such as pain and touch
- Motor nerves –controlling muscles
- Autonomic nerves –regulates automatic functions of the body, such as blood pressure and sweat production
Signs of peripheral neuropathy
- Tingling and numbness
- Burning, stabbing or shooting pain in affected areas
- Loss of balance and co-ordination
- Muscle weakness
Complications of peripheral neuropathy
This depends on the underlying cause and which nerves are affected.
Some cases may improve with time if the cause is addressed, whereas for some people the damage may be everlasting.
If the cause isn’t treated, you may be at risk of potentially serious complications, for instance foot ulceration may become infected.
The circulation in your Feet (Peripheral arterial disease)
Signs of peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
- A lot of people with PAD have no symptoms.
- Intermittent claudication: a painful ache in the legs when walking, this usually resolves after a rest.
- Weakness in the legs
- Brittle and slow-growing toenails
- Ulcers of the feet or leg
- Skin color becoming pale or blue
PAD can lead to Critical limb ischaemia
The blood flow to the legs becomes significantly restricted, which can be a serious complication, difficult to treat.
PAD can lead to Critical limb ischaemia
The blood flow to the legs becomes significantly restricted, which can be a serious complication, that can be difficult to treat
Symptoms of Critical limb ischaemia include:
- Burning pain in the legs and feet that continues with rest.
- Toes or lower limbs becoming cold and numb, developing red and then black
What is looked at it an assessment
Changes within the feet and lower limb can happen slowly over time, and you may not detect slow changes.
At Heal and Soul Health, we recommend people with Diabetes have their feet assessed on a 6 month basis or more regularly if advised. This is in-line with the Victorian state guidelines.
- Looking at current medical history, medication and ability to self-care.
- Neurological supply to the feet: we asses all three parts of the nervous system supplying your feet to note any alteration.
- Vascular supply to and from the feet: listening to the arterial supply as well as taking a blood pressure reading in the leg and arm, to give an overall impression.
- List Item
- The structure of your feet and visual gait analysis: this will aid in detecting high pressure areas which are at greater risk of ulceration.
- Ulceration and foot lesion history.
- Footwear assessment.
- Any other concerns you have
On completion of a foot health assessment you are provided with your health state, any current issues are explained as well as identification of potential future problems. This is followed up with qualified and experienced advice and recommendations aimed at avoiding these life threatening problems and others too numerous to detail individually. Our Podiatrists are committed to assisting you implement the ideal management strategies to give you every chance of maintaining optimal foot health while reducing the risk of further complications.
Book your next comprehensive foot health assessment here