Diabetic Foot

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder defined by the presence of chronic hyperglycaemia in the bloodstream (Matthews, 2008) resulting from either a malfunction on the action or secretion of insulin by the b-cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas (Kumar et al, 2003). Therefore, the hormone insulin which normally maintains glycaemic control within its normal limits, fails to do so resulting to chronic hyperglycaemia. Chronic hyperglycaemia affects microvascular and macrovascular systems (Meetoo, 2014) (Papatheodorou et al., 2015). Microvascular complications include neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy. Macrovascular complications include a high risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) (Papatheodorou et al., 2015).

Here at MELA podiatric clinic we assess the neurological and vascular status of our diabetic patients and our goal is to prevent complications of diabetes on the lower limb. 

Podiatrists are one of the essential professionals within diabetes care. 

Why podiatry is so essential to people with diabetes

• Diabetes causes nerve damage known as peripheral neuropathy
• Diabetes affects the circulation, and poor circulation can affect how the body heals
• People with diabetes are more prone to infection
• Diabetes complications can also affect the feet
• Diabetes can affect the joints and make them stiffer

What happens with poor podiatry?

A variety of foot problems can arise when poor foot care fails to catch issues at an early stage. These may include:

• Damage to the foot
• Foot ulcers
• Foot infections
• Charcot’s joints
• Amputation