Diabetes Awareness

Diabetes Awareness – are you at risk of Diabetes? Measure your waistline if you are over 80 cm for women or over 94 cm for men it puts you at greater risk.

Diabetes is when the body cannot use glucose properly because the body is not producing enough insulin or the insulin made is not working. Without the hormone insulin our body cannot transfer glucose, our main source of energy. There are three types of Diabetes: Type 1(genetic), Type 2 (lifestyle), and gestational Diabetes which occurs during pregnancy.

Diabetes is a serious disease which can put you at risk of heart disease, kidney failure, stroke, amputations, blindness and other such complications if left undiagnosed or poorly controlled.

Your Physio can help you design a safe exercise programme to assist you if you are a diabetic or for prevention of Type 2 Diabetes. We also treat the conditions that are more likely in diabetics like Tendinopathy. Physio can help you with guidelines and advice on how to start a walking or weights programme and improve your general fitness.

DIABETES AFFECTS YOUR FEET

Diabetes can affect the function of the nerve & blood supply to the feet & legs. If diabetes is poorly controlled for a long period of time, the nerves & blood vessels may become damaged. Nerve damage or “peripheral neuropathy” is a change in sensation or a complete loss of sensation. Therefore the person is unable to feel pressure, temperature, vibration, & pain. In other words, the foot becomes at risk of injury from shoes, cuts, blisters, pressure calluses etc.

Damage to blood vessels results in reduced blood supply or “poor circulation”. When the blood supply is reduced, the area takes longer to heal, and may be at risk of developing an infection. The detection of early changes in your feet can help prevent problems developing. If you have Diabetes you need to have regular assessment and maintenance of your feet by your podiatrist.