When you have diabetes, your health is always on your mind. You’re constantly thinking about checking blood sugar, managing symptoms, and maintaining your weight. But are you also thinking about your feet?
Diabetes and foot health might seem very different, but they are deeply connected. Diabetes can affect almost every part of your body, and the feet are no exception (especially if you have additional risk factors, like high cholesterol or obesity, or if you smoke).
- Up to half of people with diabetes develop diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that often affects the feet.
- Nerve and circulation damage can cause numbness, tingling, pain, infections, and slow-healing wounds in the feet.
- Untreated foot problems can escalate into ulcers, infections, or even gangrene — sometimes leading to amputation.
- You can lower your risk by managing blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, and by quitting smoking.
- Daily foot care is essential: check your feet for cuts or sores, wear supportive shoes, and seek medical care if problems arise.
How Diabetes Affects the Feet
Over time, high blood sugar (blood glucose levels) from diabetes can damage your nerves and the small blood vessels that nourish your nerves. The nerves may not receive enough blood to get the oxygen and nutrients they need to function correctly. Foot problems arise when this damage makes its way down to your legs and feet.
Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) is the most common diabetes-related foot problem.
Depending on the type of diabetic neuropathy you have, you might experience numbness, tingling, pain, or burning or shooting pain in your lower legs.
One of the major problems with diabetic neuropathy is that it makes it difficult to feel your feet. Without sensation in your feet, you might not notice pain, signs of infection, or an injury. This delays diagnosis and treatment, which can cause severe and permanent damage.
In addition to diabetic neuropathy, many people with diabetes have problems with circulation due to damage to small blood vessels. They might also not get enough blood supply to their skin and feet as a whole, which makes it difficult for wounds to heal.
Also read: 5 Diabetes Myths — Debunked
Types of Diabetes-Related Foot Problems
Nerve or circulation damage from diabetes can cause several types of foot problems. Some of the most common ones include:
- Blisters and ulcers (open sores)
- Callouses and corns (thick, hardened layers of skin)
- Skin changes, like abnormally dry, cracking feet (xerosis)
- Infections
- Slow-healing wounds
In addition, if you don’t notice a foot injury and keep walking on it, you might make the injury worse. This can cause your foot to become severely deformed.
The Importance of Catching Diabetic Foot Problems Early
Since nerve damage develops over many years, you might have very mild symptoms (or no symptoms at all) in the beginning stages. But even if a little numbness or tingling isn’t bothering you, it’s important to pay attention. Diabetic foot problems that go untreated can lead to severe complications.
Untreated foot problems can have a snowball effect. For example, if you don’t notice and treat corns or callouses, they can turn into foot ulcers (open sores). When ulcers are not treated early on – especially if they’re infected – they can severely damage your foot. The problem can be even worse if your diabetes has led to poor circulation in your feet, as this can make it more difficult for ulcers to heal. If an infected ulcer isn’t treated or doesn’t heal well, you may need to have part of your foot or toe surgically removed (amputated).
An estimated 15% to 50% of foot ulcers in people with diabetes become infected, and about 20% of those infections end up requiring amputation.
A Word from Our Doctor:
“Every step matters, protect your feet!”
-Dr. Farheen Wahid, DPM, Board Certified Podiatrist specializing in comprehensive foot and ankle care.
Dr. Wahid specializes in diabetic foot problems and comprehensive foot and ankle care. Our experienced podiatry team is fully prepared to help patients with diabetes protect their feet and prevent serious complications. Prioritize your foot health today and schedule an appointment with a Duly Health and Care Podiatrist today.
One of the most serious complications of diabetes is gangrene. Gangrene in the foot is a medical emergency that occurs when blood stops flowing to your foot and the tissue dies. It needs to be treated immediately to prevent bacteria from spreading to other organs or tissues and becoming life-threatening. If treatments don’t work or the gangrene is advanced, you may need to get an entire toe or foot amputated to save your life.
Also read: Podiatry, Foot & Ankle Surgery FAQs
Preventing Diabetic Foot Problems
Managing your blood sugar is one of the best ways to prevent diabetic foot problems or stop nerve damage from getting worse. Keeping your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels in check can all help lower your risk.
You can also reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, limiting alcohol, quitting smoking, and taking diabetes medication as prescribed.
Taking Care of Your Feet When You Have Diabetes
The right foot care can help prevent problems or catch them early so you can get medical care right away.
- Examine your feet every day for cuts, cracks, blisters, sores, redness, and corns.
- Wear the right footwear:
- Choose comfortable shoes that have cushioning and support for your arch, heel, and the ball of your foot.
- Avoid high heels, narrow shoes, and tight-fitting shoes.
- Wear clean, dry socks (made of moisture-wicking material).
- Don’t go barefoot.
- Wash and dry your feet every day (but don’t soak them, since this can dry them out).
- Don’t remove corns or callouses yourself (unless your provider shows you how to do so safely).
- Keep your toenails trimmed, cut them carefully, and use an emery board to file sharp ends.
Also read: Nail Disorders
When to Get Medical Care
A diabetic foot problem can become serious quickly, so it’s important to get care as soon as possible. Talk to your provider right away if you have:
- Sores that aren’t healing
- Dry, cracked skin
- An inability to sense cold or heat in your feet
- A loss of sensation
- Burning, pain, or tingling
- Changes in temperature, color, foot shape, or toenails (thick and yellow or ingrown nails)A fungal infection between your toes
- Hair loss on your lower legs, feet, or toes
Get emergency care if you have signs of gangrene, including:
- Skin turning red, purple, black, or green
- Skin becoming cool, firm, pale, or tender to the touch
- A cracking sound when you press on the skin
- Blisters or sores that are bleeding or oozing pus
- A foot infection that smells bad
Any time you’re concerned about foot problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to a podiatrist (a provider who focuses on foot health). In addition to treating the problem, they can help you continue to manage your diabetes to avoid further foot issues. Talking to your provider is always a “step” in the right direction.
Don’t wait for foot problems to worsen or lead to serious complications. Take control of your foot health today. Schedule an appointment with a Duly Health and Care physician who can assess your individual needs and develop a personalized treatment plan to protect your feet and prevent future complications.
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My personal practice style is patient centered, empathetic and evidence based. I strive to create a comfortable environment where patients feel heard and involved in their care decisions. I take time to explain diagnosis and treatment options clearly, and I tailor my approach to each individual. I value collaboration with my colleagues and believe in a multidisciplinary approach when appropriate. I'm also committed to ongoing learning and staying current with advancement in podiatric medicine to provide the best possible care.
