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Diabetes Centre :
Foot care - Speciality Clinic
 We are pleased to inform you that K.L.E'S Hospital & M.R.C. Belgaum has opened an Independent "FOOT CARE SPECIALITY CLINIC"
attached to DIABETES CENTRE headed by Dr. M. V. Jali
MD,
FICS, Director Diabetes Centre and Assisted by Dr.
Aruna Porwal, Diabetes Foot Care Specialist. This is
one of the unique clinic specialized in diabetic foot
care.
Background :
The prevalence of potential foot problems among diabetic
patients
is very high. Many patients who have had
diabetes for several years do not know exactly how
diabetes affects the foot. The accelerated vascular
(Blood supplying vessels) and neurological complications
of diabetes lead to distinct clinical problems in the
foot. It is therefore inevitable that many diabetic
patients at some point will develop foot problems that
ultimately may lead to amputation. Proper foot care by
specialists is of paramount importance in preventing the
foot problems in diabetics.
It is well documented scientifically that proper foot
care and patient education decreases diabetic foot
problems. The quality of foot care in India needs much
improvement. The poor knowledge of foot - care among
diabetic patients, lack of proper foot-care medical
specialists, even delayed referral of patients with foot
infection to specialists is some of the important
factors responsible for high incidence of the foot
problems in India
Podiatry service in India.
Unlike in the western countries and USA there are no
professional and qualified podiatrists (who are
specialised in foot care) in many of the developing
countries including India. This is an important factor
for the poor quality of diabetic foot care in India. A
specially designed foot-care clinic would therefore help
to create awareness among people, about the need for
developing podiatry service in this part of Karnataka
under the emerging KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital &
MRC, Diabetes Centre.
An overview of diabetes foot problems in 2000-2001
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7%
of the total admission of patients in KLES
Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & MRC had diabetes and related problems.
Of them, 11.62 % had major foot
complications ending with major lower
extremity amputations.
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In
general 60-70 % of lower extremity
amputations are due to diabetes related foot
problems.
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Foot problems from diabetes cause more
economic loss and morbidity, and a
significant number of these diabetics are
middle aged and are the sole bread earners
for the family. This brings a major
psychological as well as economic stress on
their families.
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A
comprehensive foot care under the diabetes
centre can reduce the number of amputations
and improve the quality life of individual
with diabetes.
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Prevention is better then intervention in
this regard. |
The foot care speciality clinic in Diabetes Centre in
KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & MRC is well equipped to deal with several
foot problems in diabetics. The core group consists of Diabetologist, surgeons and podiatrists (Foot care
specialists). Adopting an active policy of limb salvage
procedures will reduce the amputation rate.
The foot care speciality clinic is specialised in taking
care of several potential foot problems like dry skin,
in growing toenail, heel fissures web space intertrigo,
callus etc.
This diabetic foot clinic provides comprehensive foot
care and also addresses the following foot problems,
diagnose and offer solutions under a single roof.
Independent units with
designated function consisting of :
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Well-equipped modernized podiatry room for all
podiatry (foot care) procedures performed by the
foot care specialist.
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Orthotic room for special orthotics, customized
foot wear, special material, insoles and foot
moulds.
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Neurological assessment of the foot. (By
sensorimeter, special tuning fork, and
monofilament).
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Vascular assessment and minivascular lab
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Minor
OT for foot procedures
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Counselling / patient education room.
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The other
allied specialties like surgery, orthopedics, plastic
surgery and vascular surgery are well developed to
provide comprehensive "foot care" for diabetics. The
patients’ progress is intimated to the referring doctors
who will continue to care for the patient.
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