Diabetic Foot Care
It is very important that all Diabetic patients visit a Podiatrist every six to twelve months for a Diabetic screening to ensure there are no abnormalities present. For certain high risk Diabetic patients it is been advised that they refrain from carrying out any home treatments on their feet because this can result in further problems such as infection. During the Diabetic foot screening Ashleigh will carry out a number of important tests which include:
- Check the pulses to ensure there is an adequate arterial supply to the feet
- The condition of the skin (many issues can occur with the skin which could lead to skin breakdown and other potentially serious problems)
- The condition of the nails (the appearance of the nails can indicate potential problems)
- Vibration tests to check your sensation is within normal
- Sharp/blunt and hit/cold tests to also check if your senses are accurate
- A 10g monofilament test to check if you are able to identify feeling in a number of areas on both feet
- The venous drainage system is also checked as varicose veins or burst blood vessels as well as swelling within the feet and legs can signify that there is inadequate venous drainage returning the blood to the heart
- The results of this examination determines the risk level that the Diabetic patient has in developing serious complications such as: Diabetic neuropathy (loss of sensation), Diabetic ulceration (breakdown of the skin into deep wounds), Ischaemia/Peripheral vascular disease (poor blood supply due to arterial blockages).