The podiatrist begins with a personal consultation. You will discuss, for example:

What symptoms you are experiencing;
Whether you have reduced sensation in your feet;
Whether there are any cuts, pressure sores or calluses;
Whether you have had foot problems before;
How long you have had diabetes.

We also look at your daily activities, the way you move, and your use of shoes and socks.

The interview is followed by a physical examination. During this examination, the podiatrist assesses the sensation in your feet and your blood circulation. Tools such as a monofilament, tuning fork or Doppler are used for this.

The podiatrist will also examine the alignment of your feet, toes, ankles and legs. In doing so, they will pay particular attention to:

The presence of pressure sores, calluses or minor wounds;
Changes in the position of the foot;
Abnormalities of the skin or nails;
Signs of swelling or irritation.

Based on the physical examination, the podiatrist gains a clear picture of the risk of foot wounds.

An important part of the podiatric assessment for diabetes is assessing areas of the feet that are at risk. By identifying these areas in good time, wounds can be prevented.

The diabetes podiatrist looks for areas where there is a lot of pressure, friction or irritation. Examples include:

Calluses
Redness
Pressure points
Early-stage wounds

We also assess whether certain parts of your foot are more susceptible to strain. Particularly when sensation in your feet is reduced, small pressure points can grow larger without you noticing.

In people with diabetes, a change in the position of the foot, reduced sensation in the feet or an abnormal gait can cause extra pressure on certain areas of the sole of the foot.

That is why the podiatrist analyses your gait. We look at how you distribute weight on your feet whilst standing and walking, how your feet roll, and whether there are any areas where too much pressure is built up.

By analysing your walking pattern, we can identify areas at risk at an early stage. This enables us to help prevent pressure points from developing into sores or wounds.

The podiatrist makes a pressure measurement of your feet. We do this using a special pressure measurement plate. This allows us to see exactly how the pressure is distributed under your feet whilst standing and walking.

In the case of diabetes, pressure measurement helps to identify pressure points, overuse and the risk of wounds in good time. This is particularly important if you have reduced sensation in your feet.

The pressure measurement highlights where additional pressure is exerted and where there is an increased risk of pressure sores.

With diabetes, well-fitting shoes and socks are particularly important. This is because ill-fitting shoes or socks can cause pressure sores more quickly. These pressure sores can turn into wounds. And we want to prevent that

The diabetes podiatrist will therefore also assess your shoes and socks. We will, in any case, check whether:

The shoes have enough room;
The shoes provide sufficient support;
The shoes do not cause any pressure sores;
The socks should not have thick seams or tight-fitting edges.

Where necessary, we provide advice on suitable footwear.

After the examination, the podiatrist will discuss the results with you. We will explain the risks to your feet, such as pressure points, reduced sensation, an altered foot position or an abnormal gait.

Together, we’ll discuss what’s needed to protect your feet properly. In doing so, we’ll look not only at your current situation, but also at how we can help prevent foot sores and other foot problems.

The podiatrist will draw up a personalised treatment plan together with you. The treatment plan is tailored to potential risks associated with diabetes.

The treatment plan is also tailored to your symptoms and the health of your feet. Possible components of the treatment include:

regular foot screening;
podiatric insoles;
pressure relief;
shoe advice;
advice on daily foot checks;
collaboration with a medical chiropodist or other healthcare professional;
explanation of how to use the Voetencheck App.

If you have diabetes, regular check-ups are particularly important. During your check-up appointment, the podiatrist will examine your feet with you. We will assess whether any pressure points, sores or other areas of risk have developed and whether the treatment is sufficiently effective in reducing these risks.

If necessary, we will adjust your treatment. We also use the follow-up appointment to provide explanations and advice. This will help you understand what to look out for and what you can do to look after your feet properly and help prevent foot sores.

Have you been referred by your GP or specialist? If so, we will share the results of the examination with your referrer or other healthcare professionals involved.

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