As a podiatrist you have an incredible opportunity to bring diabetes-related foot disease to the forefront of your community’s mind. Diabetes Feet Australia are encouraging podiatrists to get behind the inaugural Diabetes Feet Day, with stacks of resources ready to be shared with your patients and via your networks.
Diabetes-related foot disease has been described in the Medical Journal of Australia as the least known major health problem. In fact, as podiatrists you probably know that it’s the largest cause of the national hospitalisation, amputation and disability burdens in people living with diabetes in Australia.
But when your patient thinks of diabetes, feet may not be the first word that comes to their minds. And feet may take a backseat when it comes to your patients’ general health management; given other aspects of diabetes, work, family and life can take a higher priority.
So, on 12 November 2024, Diabetes Feet Australia is hosting the first national Diabetes Feet Day, where feet are the focus! As a podiatrist, this is where you come into the picture; to help make a difference.
You probably already know that each year in Australia, 47,100 hospitalisations are caused by diabetes-related foot disease, but do your patients know this? Or do your patients know that each year in Australia, 6,300 people undergo an amputation due to diabetes-related foot disease?
Since diabetes-related foot disease spans many presentations, you already know that the focus of a person living with a diabetes-related foot ulcer is very different from the focus of a person at-risk of developing diabetes-related foot disease.
Similarly, the focus of a podiatrist is different to that of a vascular surgeon; which is why we want your all-important – and unique – perspective as a podiatrist.
For Diabetes Feet Day, we want to find out what your feet focus is. Why? So that you can help us build a national ‘feet focus’ profile.
It could be a single word from you about what you think about when you reflect on why feet matter, or even just a short sentence. Whatever it is, head to the webpage for DFA’s Diabetes Feet Day to share your story as a podiatrist. Together we can help to share this information as far and wide as possible, amongst people and communities who can benefit from your insights.
Please share ready-made resources on Diabetes Feet Day across your social channels, newsletter, or even decorate your practice. With a range of interactive visuals, factsheets and posters available to use, this is an easy way to share your feet focus, promote your service and help spread awareness to improve foot health outcomes for people living with diabetes.
With feet focused organisations and services all around the country, Diabetes Feet Day is our way to connect and highlight the good work done around the nation. Whether it’s offering education, talking about your services or research, focusing on screening, hosting a feet focused activity or something else, we’d like to hear how you’re marking Diabetes Feet Day! You can submit your activity on the Diabetes Feet Day webpage to add to the national digital noticeboard.
…And last but not least, please tag away on socials #diabetesfeetday
You know that foot care is vital for people living with diabetes and fortunately, many foot problems are preventable. As part of Diabetes Feet Day, we encourage people living with diabetes to look down at their feet and have a good look around.
Together, we can make a difference to educate, advocate and spread awareness about diabetes-related feet health and disease. So…what’s your feet focus?
© Copyright 2021 The Australian Podiatry Association
