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Patients with diabetes are not receiving properadvice about the risks diabetes poses to their feet, according to research byDiabetes UK.
As part of its Putting Feet First campaign,the charity said the lack of proper foot checks is putting patients atincreased risk of amputation. As a result, it is calling for ClinicalCommissioning Groups (CCGs) to make sure healthcare professionals carrying outthe annual foot checks are given the proper training. The charity also wantspeople with diabetes to know what a good foot check looks like so they can makesure they are getting one.
In its online survey of 6,696 people with diabetes,almost a third (32%) said they had not been informed about their level of riskof foot problems at their annual foot check. The same proportion said they werenot given advice about foot care and almost one in five people (18%) said theydid not have their feet checked for corns, calluses and changes in shape.
Of the 1,476 people who said they had been toldthey were at an increased risk of foot problems, almost two thirds (62%)reported that they had not been referred to a foot protection team or apodiatrist, which is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.One per cent of people said they did not even remove their socks or tights attheir check.
Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK,said: “The annual foot check is very much a first line of defence againstamputation, and clearly it is not working as well as it should. We know thatearly treatment can make all the difference when it comes to avoidingamputation, so it is vital that we take action to address this.
“We want the NHS to ensure that everyone whocarries out the foot check understands how to do it and has the time to do itproperly. The check must also include telling all people with diabetes abouttheir level of risk of foot problems so they are properly informed andsupported to take care of their feet properly.”
Up to 80% of diabetes-related amputations inEngland each year are preventable, and Diabetes UK has warned that inadequatefoot checks are part of the reason that so many amputations happen.