Self-help footcare videos for diabetes patients

PATIENTS with diabetes will benefit from three videos aimed at helping them to look after their feet.

People suffering with diabetes are 15 times more likely to undergo amputations than those without the condition.

This is because diabetes can reduce the blood supply to patients’ feet, meaning they may not feel any pain if their foot is sore or injured.

The videos have been developed by NHS England in the West Midlands, through its Cardiovascular (CVD) Clinical Network, to enable patients to take more control of their condition by showing them how to look after their feet, what happens at their annual foot check and what to do if they have a problem.

Professor Vinod Patel, diabetes clinical director for the West Midlands Cardiovascular Clinical Network, who is featured in the videos, said: “At least 80% of amputations can be prevented if patients with diabetes stop smoking, take regular physical exercise, bring their blood sugar levels under control and have a low cholesterol level.

“These videos are a great educational tool to give patients the knowledge and understanding to take more ownership of their condition, potentially reducing the risk of amputations and other complications associated with diabetes.”

The videos, entitled ‘ How to look after your feet’, ‘Your annual foot check’, ‘What happens if you develop a diabetic foot problem’, and ‘Foot care for people with diabetes – A guide for healthcare professionals’ are available on NHS England’s YouTube page.