What is Diabetes?
Over 2.5 million people in the UK have been diagnosed as suffering from diabetes. The disease is caused by the body being unable to metabolise (use) glucose (blood sugar) either because the cells which produce insulin have been destroyed (type I diabetes) or the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin made doesn’t work correctly (type II diabetes).
Symptoms
Increased passing of urine, increased thirst, slow wound healing and tiredness are all symptoms associated with Diabetes. As the disease progresses there can be damage to nerves in the hands and feet leading to neuropathy (loss of sensation) and damage to the blood supply (a condition known as ischaemia). The combination of these symptoms can also leave people with diabetes at risk of developing foot ulcers.
Treatments
The main purpose of orthotic treatment is to minimise the risk of skin breakdown and ulceration. This is achieved with a combination of:
