According to Diabetes Australia, Diabetes is the fasted growing chronic condition in Australia. To put it in perspective, 280 Australians develop diabetes every day, that’s 1 every 5 minutes. Additionally, one of the major causes of amputation in Australia is Diabetes. Visit limbs4life for more information about amputations and its prevention. Something as simple as thickened callus or cracked heels can put you at risk as a Diabetic.
In simple terms, Diabetes affects your feet and sometimes legs in 2 main ways.
Peripheral Neuropathy: Diabetes can lead to Peripheral Neuropathy. This is when all feeling is lost in the feet and sometimes the legs, if severe enough. High blood sugar levels lead to a breakdown of nerve tissue (which supply’s your legs and feet with feeling) through a complex series of events on a micro-cellular level. Without feeling, one can easily walk with ill-fitting shoes and create an extremely deep blister. This can become an infected ulcer that can lead to an amputation in some cases. In another instances, one can have a nail in his/her foot for months without realizing.
Lack of blood supply: Diabetes can have an indirect effect on the blood supply to your legs and feet. This is particularly important, as blood is extremely important for healing and infection control. Simple cut if not healed efficiently it can become an infected ulcer that can take months to years in some cases to heal up.
How can we help?
Our expertise involves assessing and treating your feet and lower limb accordingly. We use necessary technology and sound clinical skills to determine your level of risk (risk of ulceration). With this information we determine a treatment plan that works for you.
