Diabetes Ireland urges people with diabetes to be pro-active in looking after their feet and book a foot assessment with a podiatrist as diabetes related amputations remain high despite limited access to healthcare services during Covid times.
A person with diabetes is 22 times more likely to undergo a non-traumatic lower limb amputation than an individual without diabetes.
Diabetes Ireland is urging adults of all ages who have diabetes to ensure they have a full and proper foot assessment by a podiatrist or other appropriate healthcare professional. People with diabetes have special reason to take good care of their feet. Long term high blood glucose levels may make feet susceptible to injury and infection. This is because the protective sensation in the toes or feet, the “pain alarm system” may slowly disappear due to long term exposure to high blood glucose levels.
The latest data available shows that 608 people with diabetes underwent a lower limb amputation in 2020, accounting for 69 percent of the total procedures carried out in the year. There was a further 2,536 people with diabetes hospitalised requiring foot ulceration treatment spending on average 14 days in hospital for treatment in 2020. Despite limited access to diabetes review appointments during the past 2 years, it seems from this data that diabetes related amputations and diabetes foot ulceration in patient numbers remain high year on year.
With such high numbers, Diabetes Ireland is urging people with diabetes to be proactive by booking a foot assessment which will identify any problems and allow treatment to be undertaken early thus preventing more serious problems from occurring. It recommends that people should examine their feet daily and be on the lookout for small cuts, changes in skin colour and temperature, red areas and swelling.
They also must check they have continuing sensation in their feet and be alert to signs such as prickly pain in the feet, numbness and peculiar sensations such as a feeling of walking on cotton or of wearing tight socks. This is important as without a pain alarm system, injuries and poor fitting shoes may go unnoticed.
Diabetes Ireland now has over 5,000 clients attending their preventative footcare services in Dublin & Cork. These services were set up to provide people with access to a high-quality podiatry appointment service offering a full diabetic foot screen and assessment, foot and nail care treatment, callus and corn removal where necessary.
A footwear assessment is also carried out with professional shoe fitting where necessary. A choice of footwear (shoes and socks ) is available at extremely competitive prices.
To book an appointment, ring 01 8428118 or 021 4274229 or log onto www.diabetes.ie
Further information on how best to look after your feet is available free online at https://www.diabetes.ie/living-with-diabetes/living-with-type-2/managing-diabetes/footcare/
