Podiatry

Diabetes is a condition that causes faulty or insufficient production of the hormone insulin, which is responsible for helping cells absorb sugar from the blood to use for energy. When this process does not work correctly, sugar remains in the blood, causing health problems such as complications with nerves and circulation. Diabetes can affect the feet in two ways, through diabetic neuropathy or peripheral vascular disease.

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage that occurs over time leading to numbness in the feet, which can make it hard for people with diabetes to feel pain, injury, infection or damage. If this occurs and treatment is not administered in a timely manner then severe and debilitating complications can occur. Diabetes can also lead to changes to blood vessels including the arteries. In Peripheral vascular disease, fatty deposits block the vessels, particularly in the extremities such as the hands and feet, restricting blood flow. This reduced blood flow can lead to pain, infection and wounds that are slow and difficult to heal.Feet are often the first place to show diabetic-related symptoms.

Good foot care and regular review by a podiatrist can assist with managing the symptoms of these conditions, reduce the risk of complications and maintain overall foot health. If you have cold feet, numbness, sharp pain in your legs after walking, swelling, new pain, sensory changes or changes in colour, to the skin or nails please contact our podiatrists for review.

Feet are our foundation. With 28 bones, 33 joints, more than 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments and more than 250,00 sweat glands, feet are one of our hardest working body parts. The humble feet help maintain our independence through assisting with everyday mobility, activity, health and wellbeing. Your feet and lower limbs are also often a factor in developing or avoiding health conditions elsewhere in your body. Our feet can assist or exacerbate a variety of health conditions including obesity, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and others. Caring for your feet is actually important assisting with maintaining your health and lifestyle.

As we age our feet lose cushioning and soft tissue fat in the pads of the heels and balls of our feet. Like the skin on our faces, the tissue of our feet becomes less elastic and therefore more vulnerable to injury or damage. Nails become more brittle, thicker and harder making maintenance more difficult and prone to become ingrown or affected by fungal breakouts or other infections. Age and the difficulties undertaking basic foot care due to general health and mobility and some bony deformities such as bunions or arthritis, can lead to foot health issues and reduced stability of the foot and lower limb, which may impact balance, gait and ability to engage with activities you enjoy. For the older person’s foot, most concerns can be improved by regular maintenance and care, shoe modification and the use of cushioning supports or insoles. Speak to our podiatrists for more information on how we can help keep you on your feet.