Waikato Podiatry Clinic Hamilton NZ


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High Risk Feet

This may sound like a strange description.

It refers to a set of medical conditions that place the person's feet at a higher than normal (often a lot higher) risk of developing an ulceration (wound) or having their feet amputated secondary to a complication of this medical problem.

Typically, the disorder that is most commonly associated with this classification is Diabetes.

Other conditions that can result in high risk feet include:

Circulation problems - blood getting to or from the feet and legs
Rheumatoid Arthritis - producing nodules and pressure areas

DM complications, amputation and pressure areas
Loss of sensation in the feet - CMT nerve damage

Diabetes

Over the next 20 years the number of people in NZ with Diabetes will increase from 115,000 to 160,000.

About half of these people will not know they have diabetes. That is why having a simple five minutes blood sugar test is important. Especially if you are over 50 years of age or have a family history of diabetes.

Visit www.diabetes.org.nz for more information.

The prevalence of Type II Diabetes:

5% NZ European
8% Maori
7% Pacific Island

Kinds of Diabetes:

Type I:	Auto-immune, abrupt symptomatic onset
Type II:	85-90% of NZ diabetes - slow onset, often with obesity and inactivity most important risk factors FOE - fight the obesity epidemic (www.foe.org.nz)

DM complications, amputation and pressure areas

If the Diabetes goes undiagnosed or is poorly treated then the high blood glucose levels cause complications throughout the whole body affecting:

Heart
Kidney
Eyes
Feet
Circulation
Nerves

With proper diet, exercise and if required medication Type II Diabetes can be well managed and the side effects minimised.

Diabetes and Feet:
Around half of all non-traumatic lower limb amputations in NZ are due to Diabetes complications. That is a lot of unnecessary amputations!!

When it comes to diabetes and feet - prevention is the goal.

Most foot problems in people with diabetes occur when injuries - and often infections - go unnoticed and untreated due to nerve damage, or when healing is delayed due to poor circulation.

To Prevent problems:

Protect your feet from injury.
Inspect your feet every day (we can show you how).
See us or your Doctor immediately if a wound or cut is not healing.

The feet are affected because the circulation and sensation are often reduced.

Sensation - the pain response may be lost in the feet meaning you cannot feel if there is something wrong with your foot, eg. Cut, foreign object in your shoe etc.

Circulation - Arteries delivering blood to the feet can get blocked and cause achy legs and wounds that do not heal.

Diabetic feet and Waikato Podiatry Clinic:

Andrew and his colleagues at Waikato Podiatry Clinic are experts at assessing the foot of someone with Diabetes and checking on any signs (risk factors) which may indicate future problems.

Some of the signs and risk factors include:

Loss of feeling (neuropathy)
Peripheral arterial disease (loss of pulses)
Venous problems (swollen discoloured legs)
Foot deformity (bunions, claw toes etc)
Plantar callouses and corns
Wounds on the feet
Previous problems or amputations

Presence of any of these may indicate a "High Risk Foot". if any problems are identified we will make sure you know what to do and who to see to minimise the risk of future ulceration and amputation.

Andrew and colleagues have dealt with Diabetic ulcerations and Diabetic foot problems in Specialist Hospital Clinics for the last eight years.

Australasian National Diabetes Health Care Guidelines recommends people with Diabetes have their feet checked by a Podiatrist at least every 12 months.

Further reference: Ministry of Health: NZ Guidelines Group If you have discomfort or pain don't suffer it
call us today:

Phone 07 838 0003
Fax 07 838 0002
Email andrew@waikatopodiatry.co.nz
10 Pembroke Street, Hamilton, New Zealand

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