Comprehensive Care’s podiatry programme supports people with diabetes who are at risk for foot complications.

This service supports people with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes who have been assessed by their general practice team as being at risk for foot complications. This programme ensures equitable access to foot care.

Diabetes and Caring for Your Feet

Diabetes can cause issues with the condition of your feet. To avoid infections and ulcers, it is important to focus on the health of your feet.

When to contact a health professional

A serious infection can occur if you injure your foot, even just a small crack or cut, and do not seek medical help right away.
Contact your podiatrist, doctor or diabetes healthcare provider immediately if you have diabetes and:

• A break or cut in the skin of your foot
• The skin on your foot changes colour (red, blue, black, pale or white)
• New swelling of your foot
• A fever (high temperature) or you feel unwell.

Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 if you are not sure what to do.

How diabetes affects your feet

Conditions affecting your feet that can be caused by diabetes include:
• Foot ulcer
• Bacterial or fungal infection of your foot
• Peripheral vascular disease (blockage of the blood vessels in your legs)
• Gangrene (tissue death due to lack of blood supply)
• Charcot foot (foot deformity with or without pain).
If not caught soon enough, some of these conditions can lead to amputation.

Higher risk of diabetes foot problems

There is more chance of getting diabetes foot problems if you:
• Have had diabetes for many years
• Smoke
• Are older than 70 years
• Are Māori or Pasifika
• Have other diabetes complications such as nerve damage (neuropathy), blood vessel damage (artery or heart disease), kidney disease or eye disease (retinopathy)