Diabetes and Your Feet
Living with diabetes means keeping a close eye on your feet, as small changes can have serious effects.
Let’s discuss the essentials of foot care and why it’s vital for long-term health. We aim to help you stay mobile, comfortable, and confident.
How can diabetes affect your feet?
- Elevated blood glucose levels associated with Diabetes can cause damage to nerves and arteries in the legs and feet.
- This can lead to poor blood supply to the feet, loss of sensation, and diabetic foot ulcers.
- Changes to the feet often happen slowly and can easily go undetected for years if not checked regularly by your health professional.
- If you suffer from bunions, hammer toes, difficulty with shoe fitting and/or heavy callus and restricted joints, you are at higher risk of diabetic foot complications.
We’re here to help you recognise warning signs, protect your feet, and maintain healthy movement every day.
Benefits of Our Diabetic Foot Care
Regular foot checks are one of the most effective ways to prevent diabetes-related complications. Our diabetic foot assessments are non-invasive and designed to give you a clear understanding of your circulation, sensation, and skin health.
Key benefits include:
- Early detection of changes before they cause pain or infection
- Prevention of ulcers, wounds, and slow-healing injuries
- Ongoing monitoring of blood flow, nerve response, and skin integrity
- Personalised guidance for footwear, hygiene, and self-care routines
- Peace of mind knowing your feet are being properly managed
If needed, we may also recommend additional care such as:
- Wound care management and dressing advice for slow-healing or at-risk areas
- Pressure offloading techniques to reduce stress on vulnerable spots
- Footwear assessments and advice, or diabetic-friendly shoe fittings to improve comfort and protection
- Nail care and trimming to prevent ingrown or thickened nails
- Gait analysis and balance training to improve stability and reduce falls
Together, these treatments help keep your feet healthy, protected, and pain-free.
How can we help?
- We can advise you on how diabetes may be affecting your feet and work with you to create a plan to protect your feet.
- We assess and monitor any vascular, neurological, biomechanical, dermatological changes and assess footwear to help you avoid complications and injury.
- Our diabetic assessments are conducted depending on your personal risk factors – at a minimum annually to monitor any changes in the feet.
- We use a Doppler ultrasound to enable us to assess the volume and rate of the blood flow to your feet and helps in the identification of blood clots, vessel narrowing or any other abnormalities.
What You Need to Know About Diabetic Foot Care
Who Benefits Most?
Diabetic foot care is essential for anyone managing diabetes, whether newly diagnosed or long-term. Even without symptoms, regular reviews help identify small changes early and reduce the risk of ulcers or infection.
Foot checks are especially valuable if you:
- Have had diabetes for several years or have fluctuating blood sugar levels
- Have existing circulation or nerve concerns
- Wear footwear that causes rubbing or pressure
- Spend long hours on your feet or have difficulty trimming your nails safely
These reviews aren’t just for people with problems; they’re for anyone who wants to stay active and independent and prevent complications before they occur.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Changes in circulation and sensation often develop slowly, which is why early detection is key.
Some of the most common signs of diabetic foot problems include:
- Reduced or altered feeling in the feet or toes
- Coldness or colour changes in the skin
- Cuts, cracks, or blisters that heal more slowly
- Hard skin or pressure areas that become sore
During a diabetic foot assessment, we will:
- Use Doppler ultrasound to assess blood flow
- Perform gentle nerve tests to check sensation
- Inspect your nails, skin, and footwear for pressure or injury risks
If further investigation is needed, we can refer you for medical imaging or communicate directly with your GP or diabetes specialist.
Diabetic Foot Treatment
Effective diabetic foot care is about prevention and early action. We work with you to build habits and treatment plans that fit into your lifestyle.
This may include:
- Routine foot checks every 6–12 months, depending on your risk level
- Safe removal of corns and calluses to prevent pressure sores
- Advice on footwear and orthotics for better comfort and support
- Management of ingrown toenails or fungal nail Infections
- Education on daily foot checks and skin care routines
With the proper support and consistent care, most complications can be avoided altogether.
How It Works
Our diabetic foot care process is simple and focused on your needs:
- Consultation: We discuss your diabetes history, symptoms, and activity level.
- Assessment: Circulation, nerve response, and skin condition are checked using non-invasive tools.
- Diagnosis: Your results are explained clearly so you understand your foot health and risk factors.
- Treatment Plan: A tailored plan is created, including practical advice for home-care visits and in-clinic treatments.
- Follow-up: Regular reviews are scheduled to monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed.
This process helps protect your feet, prevent ulcers, and maintain long-term mobility.
Why Choose Us?
Our podiatrists are highly experienced in diabetic foot assessment and care, using the latest tools and techniques to ensure accurate results. We work closely with your GP or diabetes specialist to provide coordinated, ongoing support.
You’ll receive:
- Professional, evidence-based care from experienced clinicians
- Clear explanations and practical advice tailored to your lifestyle
- Regular monitoring and early intervention where needed
- A calm, friendly environment where your comfort comes first
Our focus is preventive care, ensuring you remain mobile, independent, and pain-free. If you’re managing diabetes and want reliable foot care, please contact us.