According to Diabetes Guernsey there are some 3500 people living with the condition on the island with around 85% with Type 2 and the remainder Type 1. There will also be some of the population with pre diabetes, some of whom will be aware of this and others not.
There are many reasons why diabetics should look after their feet. Diabetes can cause problems with the feeling in your feet (peripheral neuropathy) or there may be reduction in arterial blood flow (peripheral arterial disease) which can affect the skin’s ability to heal.
Neuropathy is one of the earliest complications of diabetes and it is estimated that 30-50% of diabetics will be impacted by this. This is driven not just by poor blood glucose levels but other, potentially manageable, risk factors impacting on cardiovascular health, such as high blood pressure, smoking and maintaining a healthy weight. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) commonly first presents in the longest nerves and as such tends to start in the toes on both feet then moving up into the legs.
Common symptoms of DPN include pins and needles or stabbing pains – or sometimes the opposite with numbness or inability to feel pain. The latter can escalate the risk of being unaware of any skin damage which can then result in a diabetic foot ulcer. Unfortunately, subsequent amputation risk can then increase, especially where there has been a delay in neuropathy diagnosis. In the UK there are around 180 amputations each week as a result of diabetic foot ulcers which have a significant impact on quality of life for the sufferers as well as there being a financial impact on healthcare provision of around £1bn annually.
Aside from looking after your general health and managing your diabetes, there are steps that can be taken to care for your feet to avoid problems.
If you would like to know more about how our Foot Health Practitioner, Gilly, could help with your feet, please get in touch.
