The appointment takes about an hour and covers:

• A detailed history including diabetes control, complications, medications and any foot symptoms
• Sensation testing using monofilament and tuning fork
• Circulation assessment including pulses and possibly Doppler
• Skin and nail examination
• Assessment of any deformities, calluses or pressure areas
• Footwear review
• Personalised foot risk score and care plan

You leave with a clear picture of your current foot health and what to watch for between appointments.

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by long-standing high blood sugar. In the feet it can cause numbness, tingling, burning sensations, pins and needles or loss of normal sensation. The most concerning aspect is the loss of protective sensation: you may not feel a cut, blister, hot pavement or pressure spot. Around 1 in 4 people with diabetes develop some degree of neuropathy and the risk increases the longer you've had diabetes.

Daily foot checks are one of the highest-impact things you can do. Look at the tops and bottoms of both feet, between toes, around heels and ankles. Use a mirror or ask a partner for areas you can't easily see. Look for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, changes in colour, dry cracked skin and changes to nails. If anything looks new, isn't getting better in a few days or you're not sure, get in touch.

Look for shoes that: have a wide, deep toe box (no squeezing or rubbing), have a soft cushioned sole, fasten with laces or Velcro for a secure fit, are roomy enough not to crease across the toes and have a smooth seam-free interior. Avoid flip-flops, open-toed sandals, narrow pointed shoes and high heels. Check the inside of shoes before putting them on for stones, creased socks or anything that could rub.

The threshold for getting professional input is low when you have diabetes. Same-week appointment for: any new ulcer, blister or cut that's not healing in 3 to 5 days, any sign of infection (redness, warmth, swelling, discharge, smell), sudden swelling of one foot or any colour change. Same-day or emergency input for: discharge from a wound, fever combined with a foot wound or any sudden severe pain.

Yes. The whole point of annual diabetic foot checks is to catch problems before you notice them. If diabetes has reduced your sensation, you may not feel issues developing. A trained podiatrist sees and tests things you can't easily check yourself. The National Diabetes Audit recommends a foot check at least once a year for everyone with diabetes regardless of symptoms.

For lower-risk diabetics with good sensation and circulation, yes, normal home foot care is fine: trim nails straight across, moisturise daily (not between toes), check feet daily, wear appropriate shoes. For higher-risk diabetics (reduced sensation, poor circulation, foot deformity, previous ulcer) home nail trimming is best avoided and routine podiatry care is recommended. We'll tell you which category you're in at your assessment.

For your first appointment, allow up to 60 minutes. This gives us enough time for a thorough history, examination and treatment in the same visit. Follow-up treatments are typically up to 30 minutes for the vast majority of cases. We'll confirm the exact length when you book.

No. You can book a podiatry appointment directly with us with no GP referral needed. We can write to your GP after your appointment if there's anything they should know.

Wear something comfortable that's easy to roll up to the knee. Bring the shoes you wear most often (we'll often look at how they're wearing for biomechanical clues). If you've had any imaging or test results related to your feet, bring those too. Otherwise just bring yourself.

Podiatry & chiropody is available at our Great Dunmow clinic at 12 Stortford Road, CM6 1DA. The clinic has on-site disabled parking available on request. Just give us a call ahead of your appointment.