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Diabetic Foot Issues
At Hurst Podiatry, we offer diabetic foot assessments for people of all ages who have type 1 and type 2 diabetes at our clinics in Healesville, Croydon, Kilsyth and Mooroolbark.
If you’re experiencing pain or any issues with your feet and/or lower limbs in Melbourne, book an appointment to see us now.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that currently affects an estimated 1.8 million Australians.
Diabetes is a metabolic disease that causes a person to frequently have increased blood sugar levels.
This normally happens because the affected person’s pancreas does not produce enough insulin or because the insulin produced by the pancreas is ineffective or of poor quality.
It’s believed that on average 275 Australian adults develop diabetes per day. Diabetes is the world’s fastest growing chronic illness.
Untreated and poorly controlled diabetes can have major health consequences and can lead to damaging the kidneys, eyes and feet.
How does diabetes effect the feet?
As a consequence of diabetes, the blood supply to the feet can become diminished. This can result in slower healing rates, poor oxygen supply to the muscles, dry and fragile skin as well as higher risk of ulceration and amputation.
It is also possible for the nerves in the feet to suffer as a result of diabetes. Damage to these nerve fibres can mean an inability to detect touch and injury to the foot, leaving the individual at a much higher risk of complications.
Due to these potential concerns, it is essential that assessment of the feet is conducted regularly to manage the risk of these complications arising.
How do we help?
At Hurst Podiatry we have invested heavily in state-of-the-art equipment to ensure these risks can be kept to a minimum.
We have Doppler ultrasounds to assess your circulation, and these are 100% interfaced with computers which means that results can be saved and compared in the future.
Your GP will also receive a copy of this for their records.
We also have neurothesiometers, which allows for the most accurate diagnosis of nerve damage possible. This machine can measure how good your sensation is and allow us to compare results year to year to ensure that we can diagnose any deterioration in your condition far earlier than with other conventional devices.
Why Choose Hurst Podiatry?
At Hurst Podiatry we pride ourselves in our knowledge and expertise in the field of podiatry, including our understanding of how diabetes can affect the health and comfort of your feet and lower limbs.
We believe in understanding your unique situation and finding the best treatment option for you. Our diabetes assessments are thoroughly conducted to ensure your condition is managed properly and safely.
We approach your foot and lower leg health holistically and like to ensure that we’re providing you with the best and most effective treatment option to suit you and your condition.
We’re also here to answer any questions you have because we want all of our clients, including those who have diabetes in Melbourne, to achieve the best results possible.
If you need help with your feet in the East Melbourne suburbs, schedule an appointment at Hurst Podiatry today.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How can I reduce the risk of diabetes affecting my feet negatively?
With the potential increased risks diabetics face to their feet, we recommend a few helpful hints to ensure your risk is kept to a minimum. Here are some of our helpful diabetic foot management tips:
- Moisturise your feet each day using a good quality moisturiser. This helps to minimise the build up of dry skin.
- Check your feet daily to ensure you have not suffered any injuries to them that you were unaware of. This minimises the consequences of any reduced sensation you might be suffering from.
- When cutting your toenails, purchase a good pair of “plier style” nail cutters rather than the traditional cutters. This style of nail clippers makes it much easier to cut a straight line with.
- When trimming your nails, try to cut the nail straight across as much as possible, and avoid cutting down the corners too much.
- If you are diabetic, make sure you get an annual assessment of your feet to check the state of their vascular and neurological health.
- Make good footwear choices. Where possible make sure you wear a good quality comfortable shoe that is a good shape and fit for your foot.
- This may go without saying but control your diabetes as well as possible. Better sugar level control leads to fewer diabetic foot complications
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Do I have to see a podiatrist if I have diabetes?
If you’ve been diagnosed as diabetic, your GP will most certainly recommend that you have your feet checked by a podiatrist on an annual basis as a minimum requirement.
As your feet can be highly affected by this condition, it is so important you ensure they are taken care of and assessed by a professional.
If you have diabetes but have not had your feet assessed by a podiatrist in some time, book an appointment to see us today.
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Do I need a referral to come to Hurst Podiatry?
No, a referral is not required to book in to see us here at Hurst Podiatry.
We’re available to patients of all ages, whether you’ve experienced an injury, you need help taking care of your feet, or you’re experiencing discomfort in your lower limbs, because everyone is welcome here at Hurst Podiatry.
We have 5 clinic locations in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, including in Healesville, Croydon, Kilsyth, and Mooroolbark.
Book today by calling us on (03) 5901 2216 or booking online here.