Diabetic Foot Screening

What is Diabetic Foot?

Diabetes is a condition where a patients body fails to regulate their blood sugar levels. Poorly controlled diabetes can affect multiple different organs as well as causing damage to the nerve and blood vessel supplying the foot, this may lead to diabetic foot ulcers, deformity of the feet and can ultimately result in foot amputation.

Therefore, Diabetic Foot screening is highly recommended for diabetic patients.

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What can I do to reduce my risk of developing a Diabetic Foot Ulcer?

• Check your feet and toes daily for wounds, blisters or corns.

• Wear comfortable well fitting shoes and socks.

• Wash your feet daily and dry thoroughly after, avoid using water that is too hot.

• Apply moisturiser lotion to your feet but not in between your toes, to prevent dry and cracked skin.

• Stop smoking.

• Take you diabetic medications as prescribed.

• Attend diabetic foot screening.

What is Diabetic Foot screening?

Diabetic foot screening involves identifying patients at risk of developing diabetic foot related wounds. Assessments carried out include a blood sugar test and a foot X-ray if necessary.

A foot examination will also be carried out to check for any of the following:

• Wounds/injuries

• Infection

• Nerve damage

• Poor blood circulation

Why do I need a foot screening?

It is important to diagnose any of the above issues early in order to treat them to avoid further deterioration of the limb. Untreated issues may cause complications that can result in amputation.

What is the treatment for diabetic foot problems?

Treatment varies depending on your diagnosis.

• Wounds - specialist dressings, including vac dressings, debridement for infected wounds.

• Infections - antibiotics, and in instances of severe infection, debridement/amputation to prevent the spreading of the infection.

• Nerve damage - medication

• Poor blood circulation - vein bypass surgery