When you have diabetes, you need to take care of your feet every day. This is because diabetes can damage the nerves in your feet, leading to poor blood circulation and increasing your risk of serious complications like foot ulcers. 

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Symptoms of poor blood supply

• Sharp leg cramps after walking short distances or up stairs

• Pain in your feet, even at rest or in the early hours of the morning

• Feet feeling cold

• Feet looking a reddish-blue colour

• Cuts that are slow to heal

 

Symptoms of reduced nerve function.

• Pain in the feet

• the feet feeling very cold or very hot

• pins and needles or partial or complete numbness.

 

It is important to get your feet checked at least once per year. This can be done by a Podiatrist who will complete an easy and painless assessment.

 

At your check up the podiatrist will look at;

• Blood flow to your feet (circulation)

• Feeling and reflexes (nerves)

• Unusual foot shapes (bunions, claw toes, hammer toes)

• Toenails

• Dryness, calluses, corns, cracks or infections.

 

Our podiatrist can remove calluses and corns before they become ulcers to prevent infection.

Understanding these concepts is the reason why attending Kew Podiatry for a Diabetic Foot Assessment is essential to detect any changes.