If you live with diabetes, you know that managing your condition requires careful attention to various aspects of your health. One of the most critical, yet sometimes overlooked, areas concerns your feet.
Diabetes can significantly affect your lower limbs, making them more vulnerable to complications. At our state-of-the-art clinic, our dedicated team is committed to helping you maintain optimal foot health. We provide expert diabetic foot care and comprehensive assessments to ensure you remain mobile, comfortable, and confident in your daily life.
Start your journey towards protecting your long-term foot health by understanding the importance of specialist diabetic podiatry.
Living with diabetes means your body faces challenges in regulating blood sugar levels. Over time, elevated blood glucose can cause subtle but significant changes throughout your body, particularly in your extremities. There are two primary ways that diabetes can impact your feet:
Diabetic Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
Prolonged high blood sugar can damage the delicate nerve fibres in your feet and toes. This condition, known as peripheral neuropathy, gradually changes your perception of sensation, which can reduce your ability to feel pain, heat, or cold. As a result, you might not notice a minor injury, such as a blister, a small cut, or a stone in your shoe. Without the warning sign of pain, these minor issues can quickly deteriorate into severe complications.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (Reduced Blood Supply)
Diabetes can also affect your vascular system, narrowing the blood vessels that supply your legs and feet. This reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood required for normal tissue health and healing. When circulation is compromised, even a minor graze or sore takes significantly longer to heal, greatly increasing the risk of infection and tissue ulceration.
Blood circulation and sensory nerve changes from diabetes may be gradual and go unnoticed. With professional diabetic podiatry, you can monitor these risks and take proactive steps to prevent complications before they arise.
Preventative care is the cornerstone of managing diabetes effectively. Here at Waverley Clinic, we align our protocols with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE strongly recommends that all individuals living with diabetes receive a comprehensive foot health check at least once every six months.
These regular reviews are essential. They allow our experienced podiatrists to establish a baseline of your foot health and detect any minute changes in your circulation or nerve function. Early detection of these changes enables us to recommend the most effective approach according to your unique needs, safeguarding your feet against the threat of ulcers or infections.
When you visit our clinic in the heart of Farnham for your six-monthly diabetic review, you will experience a thorough, painless, and highly structured assessment. We utilise advanced diagnostic equipment to provide you with precise and reliable information regarding your foot health.
Your diabetic podiatry appointment will typically include:
Even with the most meticulous diabetic foot care, problems can occasionally arise. It is vital to seek immediate professional advice if you notice any of the following symptoms:
We understand that managing diabetes can sometimes feel overwhelming. That is why our dedicated team is committed to providing a reassuring, supportive, and highly clinical environment. Our extensive experience in diabetic podiatry ensures you receive the highest standard of care, tailored precisely to your individual requirements.
Protect your mobility and enhance your quality of life with our expert team. Do not leave your foot health to chance.
Alternatively, speak directly with our friendly reception team – available 24/7 – to discuss your needs and schedule your visit – Tel: 01252 716611
Selecting the right footwear is crucial for protecting diabetic feet and preventing complications—shoes should fit comfortably, offer adequate support, and have smooth interiors that reduce friction and pressure points. Ensure the shoes are the correct width and toe depth to minimise pressure. Also, watch for decorative material additions and stitching, which may become pressure points.
Our podiatrists are always available to offer personalised advice on suitable choices, ensuring you feel confident and well-supported in your daily activities.
Selecting the right footwear is crucial for protecting sensitive feet and preventing complications—shoes should fit comfortably, offer adequate support, and have smooth interiors that reduce friction and pressure points. It is best to avoid open-toed styles and high heels, as these can increase the risk of injury. Our podiatrists are always available to offer personalised advice on suitable choices, ensuring you feel confident and well-supported in your daily activities.
If you have areas of high pressure, difficulty walking, or poor stability, orthotic insoles can be fitted into your shoes. Following a GaitScan, we can see where the problems are and how changes in foot posture can help. This can increase stability and comfort while walking, helping you maintain mobility.
Your GP service may check a diabetic patient annually, but the check may be superficial. Specialist podiatry diabetic reviews every six months are recommended for all individuals living with diabetes. These comprehensive assessments allow early detection of changes in nerve function or circulation, which supports timely intervention and creates a safer path for long-term mobility and well-being. If you notice any new symptoms between appointments, seeking additional advice without delay is always encouraged for your protection and long-term mobility.
Following your specific advice after your six-monthly diabetic podiatry review is the first step to ensure foot health and mobility.
Inspect your feet thoroughly every evening for signs of cuts, blisters, redness, or swelling, and wash and dry them carefully—especially between the toes. Applying moisturiser to keep your skin supple, choosing supportive and well-fitting footwear, and ensuring your shoes are free from sharp objects or rough seams will all help protect your feet from injury. By integrating these simple habits into your routine, you take a proactive role in safeguarding your mobility and long-term foot health
If you notice any cuts or wounds that are slow to heal, sudden redness, swelling, increased warmth, unexplained pain, or discharge from your feet or toes, it is important to contact your podiatrist or GP without delay.
Changes in sensation, such as numbness or new pain, also require medical examination.
Early assessment allows for prompt intervention, significantly reducing the risk of serious complications and supporting your continued mobility and wellbeing.
Proper foot care is essential for anyone living with diabetes because high blood sugar can damage nerves and reduce circulation, making the feet more vulnerable to injury and infection. By proactively monitoring your foot health and seeking regular assessments from a specialist podiatrist, you greatly reduce your risk of serious complications such as ulcers, infections, and even amputation. Early intervention and ongoing care are key to protecting your long-term mobility and wellbeing.
