Did you know that Diabetes can affect your feet? If you have been diagnosed with diabetes it is important to have you feet checked regularly by a podiatrist.

Over time elevated levels of sugar in your blood can lead to impaired circulation, this means less blood is able to travel to and reach your feet. If you have poor circulation, any injuries to your feet such as cuts, burns and scratches will take longer to heal.

Elevated sugar levels in the blood can also damage the endings of your nerves and over time this can lead to neuropathy or loss of feeling in your feet. The nerves in your feet act as an emergency warning system to alert your brain to dangers so that you can act accordingly. Because of this it is very important to make sure you are always wearing adequate footwear to protect and support your feet. It is also important to check your shoes regularly for seams that may be rubbing on your feet, or any stones and sticks that may have ended up in your shoe and cause damage to your feet, which you may not feel.

A diabetic foot assessment performed at least once a year is important as it allows our podiatrists to test and monitor your blood flow and nerves and report back to your GP and endocrinologist.

These tests will determine if you are at high risk of diabetes related foot complications such as ulceration and amputation. Regular testing allows us to monitor any changes to your foot health over time and give you management strategies to help care for your feet in the long term.