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Do you think that Clinics check feet properly?

H

howsitgoing

Member
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18
On the usual six monthly visit to my Diabetic Clinic I find that the care given is usually first class. I do find however, that apart from the Consultant, the Doctors do not check feet as often as I feel that they should.
Usually it is a question, any problems with your feet? and if the answer is they are OK, then they move on to another part of your body that is falling apart.
Do you think that at every Clinic appointment you should have your feet examined? or perhaps your Clinic does this as a matter of practise.

Type One Devil!
 
Hya,
Ihave my care at the diabetes clinic at my local surgery, once a year they thoroughly look at my feet and test them for numbness,at the 6month app,they ask if ive any probs with my feet, i find this care good for me :)
 
I've had my feet checked twice since diagnosis a few months back.
Once at my G.P. practise by the diabetic nurse - She arranged for me to see a podiatrist at another practise. The podiatrist has seen me and passed me on for regular chiropody appointments.
Hence I've no complaints on the feet front (or heels :wink: ), 'scuse the poor joke hidden in there somewhere :!:
I expect services vary in the postcode lottery called the NHS, but would suggest you ask for referral to either a podiatrist or chiropodist. Once they get their teeth into you I'm sure they'll hang on to your feet (job protection), as long as you remember to wash them before a visit :!: :!: :!:
 
AS a diabetic, if you are concerned about your feet, you can self-refer to the podiatry department.. You'll end up having to fill in a form. I used this service when I had recurrent ingrowing toenails.
It was great and saved me another course of antibioics, which wouldn't sort it out anyway.
I get an annual foot check rom the DSN
 
One thing they are looking for is a loss of sensation: neuropathy. The simplest way
of testing it is by using fine filament and seeing if you feel it. Whilst they are there they can do a simple check of circulation by checking the strength of your pedal pulses.
If you have any problems such as cracked dry skin, blisters, cuts, ingrown toenails etc they should advise you about them.

I have read that when you go to an appointment you should remove your shoes and socks to remind them! I don't need to do this,I have to take them off before being weighed and they get checked then.
 
I've never been offered an official NHS foot or eye inspection. Fortunately where I live we have some very competent private businesses so I get mine done myself. I can walk there and back, get seen almost immediately, and know the people. Compare and contrast to driving an hour to get to the hospital, paying £4.50 for the car park and spending half a day there surrounded by ill people.

No contest!
 
They look at my feet (poke them with a little stick thing, look at the skin etc.) at the annual diabetes clinic at the doctor's. The eye test (for diabetic retinopathy (something like that anyway...)) is done every year too I think, at the hospital, although I think some opticans can do it too in some areas?
 
I feel from reading these different threads that I am lucky in where I am in North East Lincs, as I get seen by the diabetes nurse every 3 months and more if I wish it, plus I am seeing the podiatry clinic 3 monthly which I've just had 2 treatments, and the foot care and other care I've had I can't knock. If I have any concerns the db nurse gives me a full check up, in fact the only bad thing about it was the amount of time from diagnosis until actually getting proper information and not having to rely on scaring myself to death reading the net.
Cheers,
John
 
I've been diabetic for 2 and a half years now, and i've only had 1 "annual" foot examination... and that was when i was first diagnosed!!!

I dont think they check as often as they should... but she did tell me what to look for, and that the little hairs on my toes is a good sign... they're still there so im not concerned :D
 
jeenie said:
Im due , my first podiatry clinic app at the local Infirmary, this Mon 1st Nov,
wondering what to expect , any comments please
Click to expand...

Mine checks the ankle pulses then goes round the feet with a small poky piece of fishing line and a tuning fork to plot where I can and cannot feel them (they may also do a test where you tell them when you feel the tuning fork *stop* vibrating)
 
I get my feet checked every 6 months at my mot's. They get poked with some sort of filament and the nurse checks pulses, if any dry hard skin and any pain/numbness. I can also go to a podiatrist if I want to. :wink:
 
Trinkwasser said:
genie said:
Im due , my first podiatry clinic app at the local Infirmary, this Mon 1st Nov,
wondering what to expect , any comments please
Click to expand...

Mine checks the ankle pulses then goes round the feet with a small poky piece of fishing line and a tuning fork to plot where I can and cannot feel them (they may also do a test where you tell them when you feel the tuning fork *stop* vibrating)
Click to expand...

Hi Trink,
Thanks for your reply, afraid only just read it, sorry,
My app was great, it lasted for 90mins, which i must say ,surprised me, and everything ok, no real probs, she did just what you described, and also , did the test, where you tell them when you feel the tuning fork *stop* vibrating, told me loads of info, about feet, how to look after my feet, eg: to use lotion, not cream products , what shoes to wear , i do have , one or two, sore toe-nails, coss of tight shoes, and dancing, suggested open toe shoes, if possible, just general stuff i expect, and finished, by arranging for me, to attend a chiropody clinic , in Th future
 
Excellent, sounds like they have all the bases covered there.

If they have found any dead spots (I have some) see if they have improved on future visits. Tight BG control and this

http://www.diabetic-talk.org/dpn.htm

has brought back most but not all of my feeling, even normies may have some sensory defect due to thickened/hard skin
 
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