For diabetic foot care in the Bedford area, please don’t hesitate to contact the MyFootMedic team. You can visit our state-of-the-art clinic or book an appointment online.
Diabetic foot care
If you have diabetes, it’s vital to keep an eye on your foot health. You may have high blood glucose levels which can impact your circulation and nervous system.
Did you know?
Diabetes is the leading cause of amputation? Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can cause various foot complications — from poor circulation and neuropathy to ulceration. As such, good diabetic foot care is essential.
How can diabetes impact my feet?
Diabetes can cause a lack of blood supply in your feet and lead to peripheral neuropathy — damaged nerve endings. If you suffer from neuropathy, then more severe issues may go unnoticed — this is because it causes a lack of feeling. You may not notice pain or other sensations. Because diabetes can lead to retinopathy (impaired eyesight), visual symptoms may also be missed.
Peripheral neuropathy can also lead to muscle weakness in your feet and cause a loss of coordination and balance.
Poor circulation due to diabetes (peripheral vascular disease) can also mean your body is slow to heal, increasing your risk of more severe complications. You may have a weakened immune system which also makes healing more difficult. As such, diabetes can cause infections or ulcers and even lead to foot amputation.
If you’re concerned about foot pain or ulcers or would like to learn more about routine foot care, get in touch with MyFootMedic and arrange a diabetic foot assessment.
What are the symptoms of diabetic feet?
As a diabetic patient, you may be more likely to experience common foot problems such as blisters, bunions and plantar warts. While it’s beneficial for anyone suffering from these to seek treatment, it’s especially important if you have diabetes.
It’s a good idea to be on the lookout for the following issues in your feet, so you can seek professional advice right away and prevent the condition from worsening:
- Foot or ankle swelling (this could be due to nephropathy – impaired kidney function)
- Changes in your skin colour or temperature
- Leg pain
- Fungal nail infections
- Corns or calluses
- Ingrown toenails
- Plantar warts
- Open sores that are slow to heal
- Dry, cracked skin, especially around the heel
- An unusual or persistent foot odour
How can I reduce my risk of complications?
Looking after your feet is a crucial element of diabetes management. Routine foot care can prevent minor problems from developing into severe issues. Elderly diabetic patients may be at particular risk.
You can carry out diabetic foot care at home. Make sure you wear comfortable, appropriate footwear and check your feet every day. It’s also a good idea to moisturise the skin on your feet and keep your toenails trimmed — always take extra care when cutting and filing your toenails.
A balanced diet can help control your blood sugar levels, and keeping active will improve your blood flow.
There are also actions you should avoid:
- Don’t walk barefoot – any minor cuts could become infected.
- Never soak your feet for long periods of time.
- Don’t use a razor to cut corns or calluses.
- Don’t use chemical treatments for verrucae, corns or calluses.
- Seek immediate treatment for any open wounds or lesions.
- Contact a medical expert at the first sign of any foot pain.
- Try to avoid extreme temperatures.
Diabetic foot assessment
An annual diabetic foot assessment from a podiatrist can help keep your feet in good condition and monitor any problems.
During your appointment, your podiatrist will carry out neurological, vascular, and skin assessments.
They will also be able to identify your risk level and offer advice and treatment if needed. There are four diabetic feet risk levels:
Risk levels
Low risk
– there is no sign of foot deformity, poor blood supply or a lack of sensation in your feet.
Moderate risk – your feet are faced with one risk factor, such as loss of sensation or poor blood supply.
High risk
– You may have had previous ulceration, amputation or diabetic foot deformity. More than one risk factor is present: poor circulation, callus or deformity.
Active
– you are currently suffering from an infection, ulcer, gangrene or swollen feet. You may or may not know the exact cause.
How can MyFootMedic help?
At MyFootMedic, our expert Podiatrists are specialists in assessing, diagnosing and treating diabetic foot conditions. We take diabetes very seriously — it’s the leading cause of foot ulceration and amputation.
We’re here to assist you in your diabetic foot care and prevent and treat any complications arising from diabetic feet. As well as providing a diabetic foot assessment, we can support you in your routine foot care (for instance, nail cutting).
We also offer these services:
- Specialist foot care to such as ingrown toenails treatment, corn treatment, or ulceration
- Advice on footwear and at-home foot care to prevent diabetic foot pain
- Insoles and orthotics
If you need a referral to appropriate NHS services, we can provide a letter to your GP.
Diabetc Foot care in Bedford with MyFootMedic
Whether you are a new patient or a regular, you will be advised of our prices and no treatment will be undertaken without your prior consent.
