A medic has called for a national strategy to improve podiatry services in order to reduce major foot complications and amputations among people with diabetes.
Consultant family physician and diabetologist Dr Abeer Alsaweer stressed the need for an integrated healthcare network linking primary, secondary and tertiary care to ensure accurate risk assessment for patients and offer timely, co-ordinated treatment.
Podiatry care for diabetes is a specialised medical practice that focuses on preventing and treating foot problems caused by the disease, such as nerve damage (neuropathy), poor circulation (vascular disease) and foot deformities. It involves regular foot exams by a podiatrist to check for cuts, blisters or swelling, as well as tests for sensation and circulation.
Statistics indicate that around 15 per cent of Bahrain’s population is living with diabetes.
“Podiatry services should be accessible at the primary care level,” said Dr Alsaweer. “It is not a luxury and patients should not have to wait until secondary or tertiary care to receive podiatry support.”