Diabetic Foot Care
Living with diabetes means your feet deserve a little extra attention. Our diabetic foot care service provides regular professional checks and treatment to help keep your skin, nails and circulation healthy, and to spot any changes early, before they become bigger problems.
Appointments are available at our clinics in Amersham, Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross, with flexible appointment times to make regular foot checks easier to fit around your routine.
Why is foot care important if you have diabetes?
Diabetes can affect both the nerves and the circulation in the feet. Reduced sensation means a blister, cut or area of pressure may go unnoticed, while reduced blood flow can make it harder for the skin to heal. Small problems can then develop more quickly, which is why regular checks are so valuable.
Looking after your feet at home
Between appointments, it helps to check your feet daily, wash and dry them thoroughly (including between the toes), moisturise dry skin, wear well-fitting shoes and avoid walking barefoot. Your podiatrist can talk you through what is right for you.
What does a diabetic foot assessment include?
Your podiatrist will take the time to examine your feet carefully, ask about your general health and talk through any concerns you may have. Appointments may include:
Skin and nail check
Looking for dryness, cracks, hard skin, corns, blisters, sores or changes in the condition of your nails.
Circulation check
Feeling the pulses in your feet and checking skin colour and temperature to assess blood flow.
Sensation testing
Simple, painless tests to check how well you can feel touch and pressure in your feet.
Footwear and pressure points
Checking for areas of rubbing or pressure and advising on whether your shoes are suitable for your feet.
Treatment and nail care
Safe removal of hard skin and corns, nail care and treatment of any minor problems found.
Personalised advice
Practical guidance on looking after your feet at home and what to watch for between appointments.
Who is diabetic foot care suitable for?
Anyone living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can benefit from regular foot checks, whether you have had diabetes for many years or have only recently been diagnosed.
It can be especially helpful if you have numbness or tingling in your feet, reduced circulation, regular hard skin or corns, difficulty reaching or seeing your feet, or a history of foot problems.
If you notice a sore, blister or wound that is not healing, or any redness, swelling or sudden change in your feet, please contact us promptly or seek medical advice.
How often should I have my feet checked?
Most people with diabetes are advised to have their feet checked at least once a year, and some people will need to be seen more often depending on their individual risk.
Your podiatrist can recommend an appropriate interval for you, based on your foot health, your circulation and sensation, and how quickly problems such as hard skin or thickened nails tend to return.
Book a diabetic foot care assessment
Diabetic foot care assessments are available at Bucks Podiatry in Amersham and Beaconsfield.