Diabetes and How It Can Affect Your Feet

People with diabetes have an increased risk of foot conditions and complications. High blood sugar levels can affect the nerves, blood vessels and skin in your feet. Due to slower healing, open sores and untreated cuts can turn into bigger issues and become infected without proper care.

Prevention is key to managing your diabetes and keeping on top of your foot health. Today we're going to discuss what every patient should know when it comes to diabetes and how it affects your feet.

What Causes Foot Problems in Diabetes

Diabetes can affect the feet in several ways, but the two main causes are nerve damage, known as Neuropathy and poor circulation.

• Diabetic Neuropathy - Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the nerves in your feet. This condition can reduce your ability to feel pain, temperature, or injury. Because of this, you may not notice small injuries like cuts, blisters, burns or pressure from tight footwear. Without treatment, these injuries can turn into nasty infections or ulcers. You should look out for symptoms such as tingling or numbness in your feet, burning or shooting pains and loss of sensitivity to temperatures.

• Poor Circulation - Diabetes can also damage blood vessels therefore reducing blood flow to the feet. Poor circulation means less oxygen and fewer nutrients reach the tissues, making it harder for wounds to heal. This can lead to slow-healing cuts and wounds, higher risk of infections and foot ulcers. Even a small injury can become serious if the body struggles to heal properly.

Common Foot Problems in People with Diabetes

• Dry or Cracked Skin - Diabetes can affect the nerves that control oil and moisture in the skin, leading to dryness and cracking in the feet. Cracked skin can allow bacteria to enter, increasing the risk of infection.
• Calluses and Corns - Calluses often build up faster in people with diabetes. If they become too thick, they can break down and turn into ulcers.
• Foot Ulcers - A foot ulcer is an open sore that develops on the foot, often on pressure points such as the ball of the foot or the big toe. If left untreated, ulcers can become infected and may lead to serious complications.
• Changes in Foot Shape - In some cases, nerve damage can weaken muscles and alter the structure of the foot, increasing pressure in certain areas and raising the risk of injury.

How You Can Protect Your Feet

Simple, daily habits can significantly reduce the risk of developing diabetes-related foot issues. Below are some of the ways you can incorporate foot care into your daily routine:

1. ‍Check your feet every day
   Look for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, or skin changes.
2. ‍Keep your feet clean and dry
   Wash them daily with warm water and dry carefully, especially between the toes.
3. ‍Moisturise your skin
   This helps prevent dryness and cracking.
4. ‍Wear properly fitting shoes
   Ill-fitting footwear can cause pressure points, blisters and ulcers.
5. ‍See a podiatrist regularly
   Routine foot checks can detect problems early and help prevent serious complications.

When to Visit a Professional

You should seek professional advice if you notice any new pain or numbness in your feet, cuts or blisters that do not heal, thick calluses or corns, or signs of infection such as redness, warmth, or discharge. These symptoms can indicate underlying problems that may worsen if left untreated.

Regular podiatry appointments are an important part of diabetes care. At Glen Foley Podiatry, we provide specialist foot care for both general and diabetic patients. Whether you need routine treatment or more complex support for diabetic foot health. Contact our friendly team today to see how we can assist you.