Podiatry Services Bendigo
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic health condition in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because the cells in the body do not respond adequately to the insulin that it produces. There is currently no cure for diabetes, and lifelong management is required.
Approximately 1.9 million Australians have been diagnosed with Diabetes with more than 300 people being diagnosed daily. Diabetes is thought of as the epidemic of the 21st century.
Types of Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1 – an autoimmune disease where insulin is essential. This is typically diagnosed in the earlier years of life.
Type 2 – a developed disease, where insulin may or may not be required. This is typically diagnosed in the later years of life (although the average age of diagnosis is reducing) and is more common in men than women.
Almost 60% of all cases of Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented with changes in diet and lifestyle.*
How can Diabetes affect your feet?
Diabetes is associated with nerve damage (Peripheral Neuropathy) and poor circulation (Peripheral Arterial Disease) in the lower limbs (feet and legs). For this reason, you are more likely to notice the effects of your diabetes in your feet.
With a lack of sensation (Peripheral Neuropathy) you are more inclined to damage your feet and not be aware of doing so; wounds can become a problem and are often missed by the sufferer. With a loss in proprioception, you also become an increased falls risk, which can lead to a rapid decline in health.
Reduced blood flow (Peripheral Arterial disease) can impact your healthy skin and nail growth, making wound healing difficult and leaving you at risk of foot or limb amputation.
Wounds are usually found on the feet and legs in people who have Diabetes. They can be complex and tricky to heal if not caught and managed quickly and appropriately. It is essential that any diabetes sufferer who has a wound or skin lesion, gets assessed by a health care practitioner immediately. This may be your GP or Podiatrist, although we usually recommend a podiatrist first as we have the appropriate tools and dressings to swiftly manage the cause of your concern. We will then refer you on to your GP if further interventions are required.
How can we help you if you have Diabetes?
Podiatrists are often the first port of call following diagnosis. We will provide crucial assessments that can determine if there are any vascular or neurological concerns with your feet and lower limbs.
At Evolve Podiatry Bendigo, we will provide safe and effective general care to assist you in managing any skin or nail concerns that you may have difficulty managing at home yourself. With blindness associated with the disease process, it can be difficult to see your feet to treat your nails and skin. This is where a Podiatrist will become an essential part of your care.
A Diabetes Foot Health Assessment should be performed at least annually to monitor any change in your condition. Interpretation and reports are always forwarded on to your General Practitioner and preventative advice is always given.
As your diabetes progresses, you will notice there will be an increased need for help with your feet. We are here to provide all your diabetic foot care needs.
What’s included in our Annual Diabetes Assessment?
- A detailed update on your medical and medication history (please bring along current medication list).
- Visual assessment of the skin and nails, looking for any clinical concerns.
- Vascular assessment, examining your pulses with palpation and Doppler ultrasound, interpreting the quality of the flow through the vessel, and listening for any anomalies. We also appreciate and assess your venous return status.
- Toe pressure (using photoplethysmogram -PPG) and Blood Pressure readings and interpretation.
- 10g monofilament assessment to assess protective sensation.
- 64/128Hz Rydel Seiffer Tuning fork to assess proprioception.
- Interpretation of all results, risk factor diagnosis and grading using the University of Texas Diabetic Foot Risk Classification System.
- Your diagnosis and risk factor will be discussed in detail with you, we will provide you with any relevant educational information to take home and make relevant referrals where required.
- A report will be generated and sent to your nominated General Practitioner, and you can also receive a copy of the report if you wish.
Diabetes Facts*
In 2005, more than 1000 people with diabetes died as a direct result of foot ulcers and lower limb wounds – around 8% of all diabetes-related deaths.
Experts estimate diabetes-related foot disease costs Australia around $1.6 billion every single year.
There are more than 4,400 amputations every year in Australia because of diabetes. Annually, more than 1700 people with diabetes die as a direct result of foot ulcers and lower limb wounds.
Every year there are more than 27,600 hospital admissions in Australia for diabetes-related foot ulcers in Australia – many of these result with people having a limb, or part of a limb, amputated.
Let’s make preventative healthcare our primary focus and reduce your risk together.
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