Importance of Circulation in Diabetic foot health.

People with diabetes can develop circulatory problems and these usually involve typically the more finer, more distal as in the circulatory vessels that provide blood supply to the lower part of our body. So the lower leg, the one below the knee is often involved. And while people with nerve damage can get ulcers, if you have extreme vascular problems or circulatory problems, that can lead to a break in the skin on its own. So, and we are increasingly seeing more people coming to our diabetic foot clinics with both nerve damage and circulatory problems. Many years ago it used to be a greater proportion with nerve damage but the tide is now turning to mixed nerve damage and circulatory problems or sometimes pure circulatory problems. So making sure that our blood pressure is well controlled, that our blood cholesterol is well control and making sure diabetes is well controlled are the three fundamental components of delaying the development of circulatory problems. Of course alongside this you should have your annual foot check to make sure that your foot risk is assessed and that you know what your foot risk is every year that you go and see your diabetes team.