DOHA: People with diabetes have been advised by experts at the Hamad General Hospital’s (HGH) Podiatry Clinic to get annual foot check-ups.
The clinic sees about 70 patients a day, including a large number of diabetics.
“If diabetic patients don’t take good care of their feet, they are putting themselves at high risk of losing one foot or both feet. If they see any foot injury, they should come directly to the clinic,” says Dr Talal Khader Talal, Head of Podiatric Services at HGH.
Diabetes damages the small blood vessels that feed the nerves in the extremities, particularly in the legs and feet.
This leads to a loss of sensation in the legs and feet, a condition called diabetic neuropathy.
For people with diabetic neuropathy, limited, or no sensation, means cuts, blisters or abrasions often go unnoticed. People with diabetic neuropathy are also prone to injuries caused by continuing to wear ill-fitting shoes.
Once a wound forms, it is often slow to heal due to damage of the small blood vessels.
“At the clinic we advise our patients to check their feet daily for cuts, sores, red spots, swelling or infected toenails. If patients are unable to see the bottom of their feet, we advise them to use a mirror to check all around the foot and between their toes, or to have a family member help with the examination.
“We advise patients to be aware of new foot sores and to monitor any sores daily to avoid longer-term problems.
“Even small cuts can lead to serious infections and patients might not notice the injury or feel any discomfort from the wound, leaving it to worsen. This makes future treatment much longer and harder for the patient,” says Dr Talal.
Nerve damage can also create deformations of the foot that can be painful. Dr Talal says treatment can vary from using special insoles to support the foot’s form to surgeries that fix the bone structure.
“If a patient loses sensation and suffers from deformations, they won’t feel any discomfort and the deformity could lead to abnormal friction between certain parts of the foot, like the top of toes. This friction can lead to ulcers, which if left untreated, can become worse,” says Dr Talal.
Dr Talal recommends annual podiatric check-ups for people with Type 2 diabetes who have been diagnosed for five years and for people who have Type 1 diabetes and have been diagnosed for 15 years. The Peninsula
