Treatment

Diabetic Feet

If you have Diabetes, you can expect your Podiatrist to see you regularly throughout the year along with visits to your doctor/practice nurse for blood glucose checks (HBA1C). However, if you are at increased risk of an ulcer, these inspections may be more frequent. The Podiatrist will normally check both the blood supply to your feet and any evidence of loss of sensation in your feet.

Blood supply will be checked yearly by looking at the colour of the skin, checking the pulses in the feet and by asking questions about certain kinds of pains in your feet and legs. Normally people have two pulses in their feet: one on the top (dorsalis pedis) and one on the inside of the ankle (posterior tibial). Most often the podiatrist will check these pulses by feeling the pulse with their fingers or they will use a small hand held scanner (called a doplar) to listen to the pulse.

Sensation will also be checked yearly using a monofilament and tuning fork. The monofilament is a plastic probe that is designed to buckle at a given pressure and is a good indicator for loss of feeling.

The podiatrist will also be looking for any foot deformity or signs of excessive loading that may warrant either regular hard skin removal, footwear advice or in some cases an insole.
Bexley Foot Clinic diabetic-foot-drawing