Kids & Diabetes

Living with diabetes can be challenging. There is a lot to consider and a diagnosis in childhood is often overwhelming and complex with many appointments and steep learning curves to navigate. It’s easy to forget about the feet in the early days or even years, in fact many children with diabetes may not even consider visiting a podiatrist until changes begin to be noticed in their feet.

Diabetes can impact the feet and lower limbs in a variety of different ways; however, well known complications which may be present in people living with diabetes can include sensation and blood flow issues. These changes were thought to be not common in children however, there is growing evidence that children living with diabetes can develop neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease before reaching adulthood.

Podiatrists are uniquely positioned in paediatric healthcare delivery to aid in self-empowerment and education of children living with diabetes. Early engagement with a podiatrist who has a deep knowledge and understanding of diabetes may assist you and your child in understanding and navigating foot related health concerns which may develop in diabetes.

The ways a podiatrist can assist:

• Develop rapport with children to trust service providers
• Take time to educate and familiarise children, families and caregivers with the instruments used for diabetes related foot screening
• Provide baseline neurovascular screening
• Observe any biomechanical or skin and nail related changes secondary to diabetes related changes and implement treatment modalities where required
• Provide foot hygiene advice and education to reduce modifiable foot problems in children living with diabetes
• Provide footwear advice and education suitable for each individual
• Takes a multifaceted approach to holistically treat and educate children, families and caregivers living with diabetes
• Assist in the multidisciplinary provision of care

Here at the Bare & Balanced Podiatrist, our principal podiatrist has spent many years working in high-risk foot settings, completed her graduate certificate in diabetes education and currently undertaking a higher research degree in a diabetes related field. She is passionate in engaging children with diabetes into the podiatry model of care provision to enhance foot and lower limb related outcomes across the lifespan. come and see the Bare & Balanced Podiatrist for all your diabetes related foot and lower limb care needs.