Diabetes can be simply described as an excessive amount of sugar in the blood.

The insulin we produce naturally regulates the sugar but may be absent, this is known as Type 1 diabetes and requires direct replacement of the insulin by regular injections.

There is other type where the amount of insulin is either too small to work properly or you do not use it well enough; known as Type 2 diabetes  it may be controlled by tablets or diet alone, generally this occurs later in life.

The foot is especially affected by diabetes because:

• diabetes can damage the nerves causing a loss of sensation and hence the possibility of damage going undetected. This loss of sensations is called Peripheral Neuropathy.

• diabetes also affects the circulation which can affect the ability of the body to heal itself.

• diabetes can render the body more prone to infection and the subsequent ability for the body to fight infection is reduced

• Diabetic foot problems are responsible for 47% of all diabetes related admissions. 

• Foot problems have a significant impact on the quality of life of people with diabetes. 

• It has been proven that a coordinated approach to foot health can prevent up to 50% of these problems. 

• The role of the Specialist Podiatrist is central to this approach.