Diabetes causes two main complications in the feet
Diabetic foot complications are a special interest area for our practice. We have extensive knowledge and expertise in this area. Diabetic foot complications are a serious problem that can lead to limb loss and amputation.
Peripheral Neuropathy
This is a condition where there is damage to the nerves in the extremities, usually feet more than hands. This can lead to a loss of sensation, or chronic nerve pain.
Peripheral Arterial Disease
This is a condition where there is narrowing or blockages in the main arteries that carry blood from the heart down to the foot. Diabetes can also affect the tiny blood vessels in the foot (microvascular disease).
Foot care tips for people with diabetes
- Inspect your feet on a daily basis for any new injuries, cuts or unusual discolouration
- See your podiatrist or GP/specialist immediately if you suspect a problem
- Have an annual foot check-up with your podiatrist
- Take care of your blood glucose levels, it lessens the risk of foot complications
- Don’t walk outdoors without footwear, it lessens the risk of injury
- Don’t walk outdoors without footwear, it lessens the risk of injury
- Don’t try to treat simple problems like corns, calluses or ingrown toenails yourself, this can lead to serious harm
Foot Ulcers
Foot ulcers are an undesirable complication of either peripheral neuropathy and/or peripheral arterial disease. These wounds can be difficult to heal unless a good understanding of the cause of the problem is taken into consideration.
Most typically, neuropathic foot ulcers are painless wounds under the joints of the front of the foot, or around the toes. They are primarily caused by unremitting pressure over bony prominences, altered biomechanics, and the lack of ability to feel pain. If blood flow is still good, they are usually relatively easy to heal once suitable pressure offloading is done with either special footwear, orthotics, bracing or casts. There is usually a preponderance of hyperkeratotic tissue (hard skin callus) around the wound, along with non-viable tissue that needs removal by surgical debridement. This is thankfully painless and promotes much more rapid healing.
The use of special dressings to heal these wounds is typically not of great importance, and simple sterile dressings are usually sufficient because the focus is on removing pressure from these areas.
Our podiatrists will need to see the wound regularly for wound debridements and to evaluate the effectiveness of pressure offloading approaches.
By contrast, ischaemic ulcers are due to a lack of blood supply (caused by peripheral arterial disease) reaching the foot, and necrosis of the skin following often trivial injury. They are far more difficult to heal unless restoration of blood flow to the foot can be achieved. We will often work with your GP and vascular surgeon to look for ways to get better blood flow back into the foot, in order for these to heal. It may be important to use protective footwear or bracing during this period to protect these fragile tissues from any further pressure or injury.