Diabetes is a very serious condition that requires a lot of preventative management measures to ensure the best quality of life of the patient. If you have diabetes, part of your diabetes management is getting your blood sugar levels under control. Diabetes is a systemic disease. This means, it affects many parts of your body including your legs and feet.
The Role of Your Podiatrist in Diabetes Management
Diabetes require a team approach and your podiatrist is the best person to ensure that your legs and feet are safe from the complications brought on by diabetes. Here at Leanne Shields Podiatry, we offer what we call Comprehensive Diabetes Assessments. We recommend that these assessments be conducted annually.
What We Do:
During your assessment we will check the blood flow in your legs and feet. This test is conducted through a Doppler ultrasound. We will also check the health of your nerves and feet for any potential complications brought on by diabetes.
Some of the things we check during your Comprehensive Diabetes Assessment include:
- Skin color changes
- Elevation in skin temperature
- Swelling of the foot
- Swelling in ankle
- Pain in the legs
- Open sores on the feet that are slow to heel
- Ingrown Toenails
- Fungal Infections around the toenail
- Bleeding corns
- Bleeding calluses
- Dry cracks in the skin, especially around the heel
These tests and examinations can determine whether there are issues that need to be addressed by your GP. Your test results are forwarded to your GP to ensure that your condition is being addressed holistically.
I Have Diabetes. What Should I Do?
Physically inspect your feet and legs daily – Check your feet and legs for any cuts, bruises and other irregularities. If you are unable to do this yourself, have someone help you.
Wear Comfortable and Well-Fitted Footwear – Every time you buy a new pair of shoes or footwear, make sure that you are professionally and properly fitted. Poorly fitted footwear can lead to severe issues. It is important that each time you buy a new pair, you try them on and make sure that you feel comfortable wearing them. Do not buy shoes that you need to “break-in” to be comfortable. The shoes must be comfortable before you buy them.
Wash Your Feet Daily – Wash your feet daily in the morning and before going to bed. After washing make sure that you dry your feet very well. If your skin seems dry, apply a thin layer of moisturiser for sensitive skin. Avoid getting the moisturiser in between your toes.
Cut Your Toenails Properly – Cut your nails straight across and avoid cutting the corners. Cutting the corners may lead to ingrown nails that can cause infection. If you are unable to cut your own toenails because of poor eyesight, we recommend getting your nails done professionally to prevent complications.
If you are due for your annual Comprehensive Diabetes Assessment or if you are looking for a professionally recognised podiatrist to conduct the assessment for you, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with Leanne Shields’ Podiatry. We are ready to help.