Diabetes is on the rise in Australia as in most parts of the world. It is a disease that occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to allow the sugar to be absorbed into the cells. If diabetes is not managed appropriately, it can cause a multitude of secondary problems, mainly affecting the eyes, kidneys and feet.

It is the impact that long-term poorly controlled diabetes has on the feet that leads to most of the hospitalisation. The sugar build-up can damage the nerves and blood vessels that supply the feet, causing poor sensation and poor circulation. This, in turn, can lead to the loss of the protective pain function, meaning damage can occur without the person feeling it. Combined with poor circulation, foot damage cannot be healed in some situations.

Focus on prevention – It is imperative that your feet are assessed regularly by a foot and ankle specialist like Bio Podiatry, so that any feet problems can be picked up and dealt with early to ensure damage doesn’t occur.

Our diabetic feet assessment focuses not only on the eradication of minor problems but also on the prevention of more serious conditions. The pulses and sensations are also assessed, allowing for the ability to document the current situation of diabetes and the feet. This can be relayed to your GP and endocrinologist to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to prevent and treat any foot problems.

If reduced foot function and structure exist, these can lead to abnormal forces and subsequent problems, particularly if a poor sensation is present. In this case, shoe advice will be given and cushioning insoles or functional orthotics may be required to absorb forces and protect the feet.

Medicare support – As diabetes is classed as a chronic disease, there is the possibility of receiving a special referral from your GP. Called Chronic Disease Management (CDM) and previously known as Enhanced Primary Care (EPC), it allows for a certain number of visits to a podiatrist to be covered by Medicare.