LIVINGLIVING
HAPPIER FEET
A podiatrist who has treated more than 200,000 feet during his
career has launched a book aimed specifically at people with
diabetes.
P
odiatrist Peter Allton's
book, Undefeeted by
Diabetes: a Step-byStep Guide to Keep
your Feet Healthy for
Life, is aimed at those with diabetes, their
family members, friends and those at risk
of developing diabetes. Allton has 27
years of experience as a podiatrist, having
qualified as a podiatrist in 1988. After
spending 13 years working in community
and hospital clinics for the NHS in the UK,
Peter set up his private practise in 2001,
Circle Podiatry, a multi-award-winning
private podiatry company.
As someone who lives with Type 2
diabetes, Allton knows how important
education is to managing the condition.
When his daughter was diagnosed with
Type 1 diabetes at the age of 11, Allton
decided to take action and promote good
foot health for people with diabetes.
Dr Gerry Rayman, Lead Diabetologist
at Ipswich Hospital and a Medical
Advisor to Diabetes UK said of the
launch, "Undefeeted by Diabetes is
about empowering people with diabetes
to understand and take control of their
condition. Peter has drawn on his
experience as a podiatrist with patients
with diabetes and tried to understand
what causes the complications of
diabetes and why we, as a profession,
have let them down. We haven't made
diabetics aware of what to do and how
to spot the warning signs. We can patch
people up but it's much better to give
people the ability to prevent complications
themselves."
Allton hopes too raise awareness of
lower limb complications in diabetes as
it is estimated that every 20 seconds,
somewhere in the world, a person
with diabetes is undergoing a lower
limb amputation. It is estimated that
85% of these could be avoided. As he
says, "The number of people who live
with the condition but are unaware of
the impact it can have on their feet is
staggering. Diabetes can play havoc with
your feet unless you manage it carefully.
Undefeeted by Diabetes aims to give you
the tools to do so."
Preventatiive care
People with diabetes who develop
foot ulcers face lengthy treatment so
prevention of foot problems is a vital
part of foot care. Chris Day, founder of
Filament Publishing, which published
'Undefeeted', said, "This is a special
campaign and I am proud to be involved.
How often is it that you read a book that
has the potential to save lives?"
The 'Undefeeted' campaign contains
the book, a set of online resources and
an initiative which encourage podiatrists
to volunteer some of their time so that
people with diabetes can have check-ups
for free.
www.undefeeted.org