42 AUGUST 2019 ownerdriver.com.au
DIABETESNSW & ACTRobbie T yson
Foot complications
W
HILEANYONEcan
geta woundthereare
woundsthatoccur
duetoanunderlying
medicalcondition.
Peoplelivingwith
diabetesareatgreater
riskofchronicwounds,whichis
consideredtobea diabetes-relatedfoot
complication.Diabetesisincreasingly
commonthroughouttheworld.The
ƖƆ'Ķëć ȾƖƆƐsëōĶëŕ'ĶëćĕƐĕƆȫwćĕƆĶƐƷ
andLifestyleStudy)surveyconducted
inAustraliafoundthat7.5percentof
adultsovertheageof 25 haddiabetes
andanadditional16.8percenthad
impairedglucosetolerance.
Theprevalenceofdiabetesin
AboriginalandTorresStraitIslander
populationsisevenhigherwithrates
of 10 to 20 percentreported.
WHATISDIABETES?
Diabetesiswhenyourbloodglucose
ȾƆƖīësȿ ōĕưĕōƆ Ďş ŕşƐ īş ćëĈŊ Ɛş IJĕëōƐIJƷ
levelsaftereating.Type2 diabetes
occurswhenyourinsulinisnot
workingaswellasitshouldandyou
needtoproducemoretocounteract
this.Whenyou’veproducedmore
insulinforsometimethepancreas
startstowearout.
Havingtoomuchglucoseintheblood
streamforlongperiodsoftimecauses
thecomplicationsofdiabetes.The
good news is making healthy lifestyle
changes, such as improving your eating
and physical activity habits as well
as quitting smoking can have a huge
impact on the prevention of diabetes
şsɐsĕĎƖĈĶŕīƐIJĕsĶƆŊşĪĈşŔżōĶĈëƐĶşŕƆ
once diagnosed.
FOOT COMPLICATIONS
Diabetes-related foot complications
are one of the commonest reasons
for hospital admissions. People with
diabetes are three to seven times
more likely to have a non-traumatic
amputation than people without
diabetes. This is because:
- Diabetes can damage the nerves and
blood vessels in the feet and legs - Damage to blood vessels means less
blood will reach your reach your feet - Damaged nerves can change the
feeling in your feet.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Signs of poor blood supply:
- Numb or cold feet
- Aches and pains in feet or legs
after walking - Slow healing
- Changes in skin colour.
ROBBIETYSONisa
credentialeddiabetes
educatorandaccredited
practisingdietitianwith
DiabetesNSW&ACT.For
morehealthylifestyle
tips andotherhelpful
informationondiabetes
headtotheDiabetes
NSW&ACTwebsite
http://www.diabetesnsw.com.au
orcalltheHelplineon
1300136588 tospeakwith
a healthprofessional.Why, what to look for and how to avoid them
Signs of nerve damage:- Numbness
- A burning sensation
- Pins and needles
- Sharp pains in feet and legs
- Being unable to feel sores, cuts or
blisters. This can lead to infections,
ulcers, gangrene and amputation.
FOOTWEAR
Wearing the right footwear can play
an important role in the prevention of
wounds or ulcers in the feet. Remember,
shoes provide important protection
from injury. Ensure your shoes are
not the cause of foot problems – they
should be professionally fitted and
broken in slowly.
Check both feet carefully after
wear for blisters or skin irritations.
If there is nerve damage in the feet,
you should check your shoes inside for
torn linings or sharp objects before
putting them on.
Shoes which do not fit properly
or have been known to cause tissue
damage or injury should be avoided.
Any signs of infection or skin
breakdown should be assessed by
your GP or podiatrist.
There are different types of shoes for
different activities but the following
featuresarerecommended.However,pay attention to your individual needs
as well.- Firm heel counter: Provides heel
stability and support - Sole: Should be reasonably firm
throughout and flex or ‘break’
across the ball of the foot. Rubber
composition provides shock
absorption - Toe box: Deep and wide enough to
allow toes to spread naturally - Upper lining: Leather is best.
Perforations allow for the passage
of air - Fastenings: Laces, buckles or velcro
to ensure snug fit and prevent foot
fatigue - Length: Approximately one thumb›s
width beyond the longest toe.
FOOT TIPS
Your feet are essential to your livelihood
so give them the love and attention
they deserve! To prevent your feet from
swelling it’s important to get out of
the cab every few hours and do some
exercise. Just a couple of laps around
your vehicle or some heel toe raises
will get the blood circulating. If you do
notice your feet swelling you should also
check your seat isn’t up too high as this
prevents your blood from circulating
well. Loose top socks may also help
as they promote healthy lower leg
ĈĶsĈƖōëƐĶşŕȾưĶƆĶƐĎĶëćĕƐĕƆIJşżȰĈşŔ
for a selection of socks).
When you get home from work you
could try rolling your foot around on a
tennis ball to loosen up your muscles.
Finally – cut back on the salt and quit
the smokes.ASSESSMENT TOOL
Early detection of type 2 diabetes helps
to improve and save lives. Check your
risk by filling in this quick online
assessment tool: diabetesnsw.com.au/
helpful-resources/resources/check-your-risk-
diabetes. It’s an easy first step to taking
chargeofyourhealth.“Quitting smoking can have a huge impact
on the prevention of diabetes.”