Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetic Foot Care
At Burrard Podiatry our goal is to keep you walking and lower your risk for diabetes related foot complications. According to the International Diabetes Federation, worldwide, every 30 seconds a leg is lost to diabetes, 50 per cent of those who lose a leg to diabetes, lose the other leg within three to five years, and up to 50 per cent of those who lose a leg to diabetes die within three years of the amputation. 85 per cent of leg amputations are preceded by a foot wound or sore, known as an ulcer.
The statistics are not encouraging, but if you have diabetes there are several things you can do to improve your odds. Most importantly, if you have diabetes you need to know your risk for potential foot problems. Our doctors are experienced in comprehensive diabetic foot management – from initial screening and risk assessment to the treatment of diabetes related foot complications.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body’s ability to control blood sugar is impaired. Poorly controlled blood sugars can result in different complications. Some individuals with diabetes may develop foot complications that can lead to poor circulation, loss of feeling, wounds, infection, and even amputation. If you have diabetes, you need to have your feet checked to be aware of your individual risk for foot problems. If you are found to be at increased risk, you require preventive foot care.
At Burrard Podiatry our doctors can check and assess your risk for foot complications and prescribe risk lowering preventive measures to decrease your risk for foot complications and amputation. Your feet can last a lifetime!
A significant risk factor for foot complications in individuals with diabetes is loss of feeling in the feet, or peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is a common occurrence in persons with diabetes and may initially go unnoticed (asymptomatic); whereas in others it can be very painful as it develops. If you are found to have peripheral neuropathy you are at increased risk for foot sores or ulcers that can lead to amputation.
Your feet can last a lifetime.
EDUCATION
About Peripheral Neuropathy
To help you understand peripheral neuropathy, think of a home or car alarm. The alarm serves to protect against undetected intruders. Because the soles of your feet are not easily seen or inspected, they require special protection. This protection is provided by your nerves and feeling, which is like a burglar alarm that signals “pain”. For instance, if you step on a rock or piece of glass it should cause pain, which is an alarm to notify you of the injury. If the alarm is broken and the injury or insult goes undetected, it can lead to wounds or sores which can become infected and even result in amputation. The doctors at Burrard Podiatry can check the feeling in your feet. If you are found to have peripheral neuropathy your risk for foot complications is increased and you should have a preventive/protective foot care treatment plan.
The nerves to the feet are not repairable, but risk for foot complications can be reduced through awareness and preventive foot care. The best maintenance or protection you can do for the nerves is to keep your blood sugars controlled.
If you have diabetes don’t ignore your feet and foot care. Get your feet checked regularly. If you have a foot problem, such as a non-healing sore or ulcer, do not delay treatment. Your feet can last a lifetime!
