High risk patients are usually those with diabetes, however there are other systemic and local pathologies that can place patients in the category of being
high risk. These patients are labelled as 'high risk' due to the potential risk of them acquiring complications.
Conditions that may place patients within the high risk category include:
- Vascular disease.
- Neurological disease.
- Diseases that compromise the immune system.
- Athritides e.g. rheumatoid arthritis.
- Metabolic and endocrine disease.
- Oedema.
- Haematological factors.
- Nutritional defects.
- Psychosocial problems
There are many foot complications that the above conditions may result in, the main responsibilities of the podiatrist with these patients is to prevent any
further complications and to manage effectively any already established wounds, infections or necrosis. It is very important that patients with diabetes have very strict blood glucose management, in order to reduce
the risk of complications.
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