Diabetes continues to affect millions of people in the UK. It is also increasing. People with diabetes are far more likely to have a foot or leg amputated than other people. There are many reasons for this though the most likely cause is due to arterial disease which reduces blood flow to the feet or due to nerve disease, which reduces sensation. Together, these problems make it easy to get ulcers and infections that may lead to amputation. Most amputations are preventable and at the Birmingham Vascular Clinic we can help this working along side our specialist collaborators.
When you come to clinic we will look at your foot for any type of ulcer.
Some of these ulcers may not be noticed by the patient. We will also check to make sure your that there is no problem with the blood supply to your foot. This is because diabetes causes blood vessels of the foot and leg to narrow and harden. You can control some of the things that cause poor blood flow. Don’t smoke; smoking makes arteries harden faster. You should also make sure your blood pressure and cholesterol are under control. You will be advised regarding foot wear.
If there is a problem with your blood supply these will be investigated and can be treated accordingly (See page on claudication). Professor Tiwari can perform both angioplasty and also undertake complex
bypass to treat patients with disease of the arteries.
For further information about the multidisclipinary diabetic foot clinic services provided please visit www.diabeticfootspecialists.com.