Solving children’s foot pain

Posted on: 25 March 2015

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes you're at risk of developing peripheral neuropathy, which can cause damage to the nerves in your feet. This can leave you unable to feel if you have a blister or cut on your foot, and untreated broken skin can quickly turn into ulcers that are prone to infection.

Diabetics are also at risk of poor circulation, which can occur if you develop narrowed arteries as a complication of your diabetes. Poor circulation can prolong the time it takes for broken skin to heal and this increases the risk of infection.

Worryingly, gangrene and amputation are possible outcomes of severe diabetic foot ulcers, so vigilance and prompt treatment are vital. Here's an overview of the preventative foot care recommendations and treatment process:

Prevention

You can protect your feet and minimise the risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers by inspecting your feet each day. When you have diabetes, a tiny cut can quickly turn into a difficult to manage ulcer, so have any cuts examined by your podiatrist as soon as possible. You may also want to avoid walking barefoot or wearing shoes that rub against your skin.

Schedule regular foot exams with you podiatrist who can spot early signs of peripheral neuropathy and record any muscle weakness or swelling that may indicate your feet are at risk of developing ulcers. They can also give you advice on the best way to cut your toenails to prevent growing nails from scratching and breaking your skin.

Smoking can lead to poor circulation, so it's advisable to give it up as a healthy blood flow to your feet can help your ulcers heal. Diabetes Australia offers support and resources for giving up smoking and your GP may also be able to put you in touch with local support groups.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the severity of your foot ulcer, and you should schedule an appointment with your podiatrist or GP as soon as you realise you have one. Your treatment plan may include taking a course of antibiotics to clear any infection in the ulcer and keeping the ulcer covered with a dressing to minimise the risk of infection.

You will also have regular appointments with your podiatrist to have the ulcer cleaned, which will promote healing and remove dead tissue. If your ulcer isn't healing you may need surgery to drain the pus out of it. If surgery is required, you will be admitted to hospital for a few days and given intravenous antibiotics to prevent further infection.

Diabetic foot ulcers can take several months to heal, so prevention is the goal. Minimise your chances of spending months with dressings on your foot or being admitted to hospital by having regular foot exams.