Diabetes High Risk Foot Service

We are registered podiatrists who can diagnose and treat problems with feet and ankles. We work with the team in the Diabetes Centre. This includes Doctors specialised in endocrinology, orthopaedic, vascular, plastic surgery, hyperbaric medicine and infectious disease. We also work with other allied health professionals and nursing health professionals.

From Monday - Friday 8.30 am - 4.30 pm at the Diabetes Centre, our podiatrist provides following services:

• Care for foot wounds caused by diabetes including dressing, debridement, pressure reducing techniques and investigations like pathology swabs and imaging and neurovascular assessments including toe-pressure readings.
• Care for Charcot’s neuroarthropathy including foot immobilisation and temperature monitoring.
• Foot care and education by podiatrists for people who have diabetic ulcers on their feet.
• Care for those admitted to our Hospital with foot problems related to their diabetes. 
• Applications for medical grade footwear if you have diabetes and have had a foot wound or are at a high risk of getting wounds on your feet. 

Multidisciplinary Team Diabetes High Risk Foot Clinic

Once a month on a Thursday from 9.00 - 11.00 am at the Diabetes Centre, our specialist doctors (endocrinology, orthopaedic, vascular, plastic surgery, hyperbaric medicine and infectious disease) and podiatrist provide a clinic for patients with diabetes and Charcot’s neuroarthropathy, reoccurring foot wounds and/ or diabetes related foot wounds that are not progressing towards healing. Referral to this clinic is made from the Diabetes High Risk Foot Service, the Emergency Department or any of the specialists who attend the clinic. 

The Diabetes Centre has a set of guidelines you must meet to see one of these health professionals. If you need to make an appointment please ask your local general practitioner (GP) to send a referral letter to Diabetes Clinic electronically via Healthlink. See this webpage for further information around electronic referrals. Include the reason for referral and who it is addressed to (e.g. podiatrist, dietitian or diabetes educator).

If you need an urgent appointment ask your GP to phone the Diabetes Centre.

When we receive your referral letter, we will assess the urgency for an appointment depending upon the seriousness of your condition. We attempt to give all urgent cases an appointment as soon as possible. Please ask your local doctor (GP) or specialist to phone or email us to discuss if you urgently need an appointment.

Please bring:

• Your most recent
  •  blood test results including
    • Sugar (glucose) average (HbA1c)
    • Blood fats (cholesterol and lipids)
    • Kidney (kidney function, urine micro albumin and electrolytes).
  •  lower limb vascular study results 
  •  foot and ankle imaging results 
• The shoes you wear most often (during the day, at home and/or at work)
• Your foot orthotics, if you have them
• Your Medicare card
• A list of your medicines OR bring all your medicines in a bag, including any herbal or over the counter medicines
• A snack or drink if needed
• You are welcome to bring a support person (a relative, friend or carer) with you.

Tell us if you need an interpreter before your appointment on 02 93820 4600. You can contact us by phoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National on 131 450. Please advise the operator what language you speak, and then ask the operator to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and us on 02 9382 4600.

Diabetes Feet Australia

Diabetes Australia Foot care

Better Health Channel: Diabetes – foot care