Provincial Preventative Diabetes Foot Care Program

The Provincial Preventative Diabetes Foot Care Program provides education, assessments, and preventative nail and foot care for people living with diabetes with a moderate or higher risk of foot problems. 

It can improve your independence and self-care, and help you enjoy daily life. 

The program includes:

• foot and nail assessments by a foot care nurse
• nail care, callus care and corn care
• education and promotion of self-care or caregiver-provided care
• education to prevent common foot issues

The program does not include infection or wound care. 

The program’s foot care nurses cannot provide any care below the surface of the skin. They can advise on when to seek additional medical attention for infections, wounds and other medical issues.

Eligibility

To be considered for the Preventative Diabetes Foot Care Program, you must be:

• diagnosed with diabetes 
• have a moderate or higher risk for diabetes foot problems as determined by screening from a health care provider 
• able to travel to a clinic
• able to get into the foot care chair independently
• have insufficient insurance coverage for foot care. This means your insurance covers less than 80% of your foot care needs. 

Referrals

You need a referral to take part in this program. 

If you have a family doctor or nurse practitioner (primary care provider) contact them to book an appointment. They will need to complete a Provincial Diabetic Foot Screen to show your risk level.

If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner contact your local primary care office to book an appointment for a Provincial Diabetic Foot Screen. 

If you are screened at a moderate or higher risk for diabetes foot complications, the health care professional can submit a referral to the program. 

Appointments

When the program receives your referral, they will contact you to book an assessment with a foot care nurse. Your assessment determines how long and how frequently you can access the program. 

Regular appointments are typically 45 to 60 minutes long. Some are longer to focus on assessments and education. This could involve teaching you or a loved one how to care for your feet at home. 

Locations

Foot care nurses work out of the following health centres across the province. They do not visit homes.

Charlottetown 

Polyclinic

199 Grafton Street

Summerside

Harbourside Health Centre

243 Heather Moyse Drive

Montague

Montague Health Centre

407 MacIntyre Avenue

Tignish

Tignish Health Centre

254 Phillip St. 

O’Leary

O’Leary Health Centre

14 MacKinnon Drive

Alberton

Alberton Health Centre

397 Church Street

Tyne Valley

Tyne Valley Health Centre

6905 PE-12

Contact 

If you are a new client or for questions about the program, eligibility, and referrals, call 902-288-1170 or email footcare@ihis.org.

To reschedule or cancel an appointment, please call the health centre where your service is booked.