What this means for you, or someone you may know?

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose (also called blood sugar) is too high/ low. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough—or any—insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells.

Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems. Although diabetes has no cure, you can take steps to manage your diabetes and stay healthy.

Over time, high blood glucose leads to problems such as:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Eye problems
• Dental disease
• Nerve damage
• Foot problems

Yearly Diabetic Assessment includes: (completed in the clinic)

• Glucose levels check in clinic on the day (sugar levels to give us an idea of what they are – this does not give us a 3 month period only on the day of what the levels of your glucose levels are)
• Blood Pressure reading taken

Vascular Assessment Completed (includes the following)

• Pulses taken within the foot manually
• A Doppler is used; this is an ultrasound is a non-invasive test that can be used to estimate the blood flow through your blood vessels by bouncing high-frequency sound waves.
• Ensuring you don’t have any burning, leg calf pain when walking and numbness in the feet.

Neurological Assessment Completed (includes the following)

• 10mg Monofillament to check the nerve sensation in your feet
• Tuning Fork used to assess the nerves in the feet
• Both feet checked and advise given on how to care for your feet
• Shoes inspected
• Socks checked
• Discussion on daily routine on the care of your feet to get a better understanding

What does this mean to you?

Having diabetes means you're at much greater risk of developing foot problems. This is because raised blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, can damage the sensation in your feet. It can also affect your circulation, which can lead to you getting less blood supply to your feet; therefore, could cause long term problems like, stiff joints, foot ulcers and infections.