Diabetes and Your Feet

We all know someone (maybe even ourselves) who is living with diabetes. It’s one of today’s leading chronic life-long illnesses that can affect many aspects of your life. Diabetes, which is characterized by high blood sugar levels due to the body's inability to produce or effectively use insulin, can significantly impact various organs and systems. Literally, it can affect areas from your head to your toes – brain, eyes, skin and mouth, heart and blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, and feet.

So, how does diabetes affect your feet? Poor blood circulation and damage to your nerves and blood vessels in your feet can result in nerve damage (neuropathy), non-healing or chronic foot wounds, and foot ulcers. Nerve damage means that you’ll have numbness, tingling or pain in your foot (or feet) which can prevent you from feeling an injury such as a cut or blister. If you’re unaware of a foot injury, even a small blister, it can cause more serious issues like foot ulcers or infections. While the impairment of blood circulation to your feet slows down the delivery of oxygen and nutrients that are essential for healing wounds. This makes it harder for your body to repair damaged skin and tissue and harder for wounds to heal. All of this means that people with diabetes are at a much higher risk of poor foot health and severe foot complications.

It's imperative to work in partnership with your podiatrist to access your foot health and avert complications before they become life-altering. You need to do your part and take preventative foot care measures that include:

• Daily Foot Checks. Inspect your feet every day for cuts, blisters, redness, or swelling. Use a mirror or ask someone for help to check the bottoms of your feet for a sore you may not feel.
• Regular Podiatric Exams. Schedule and keep check-ups with your podiatrist or healthcare provider to assess your foot health. Your medical team will help determine how often you need to see a professional to keep your feet healthy, but if you notice any changes in your feet – new pain, swelling, or non-healing wounds – promptly seek medical advice. Early intervention can prevent more serious complications, including the need for amputation.
• Proper Hygiene. Whether your bathe daily, it’s critical to wash and dry your feet every day. When washing them, pay special attention to cleaning between your toes.
• Wear Appropriate Footwear. Make sure your shoes fit properly. Well-fitting shoes help prevent injuries and blisters. And it’s best to avoid walking barefoot.
• Comprehensive Diabetes Management. Through nutrition, exercise, medication management (if you’re on insulin/diabetes medicine), emotional well-being, and lifestyle changes, you can keep your blood sugar levels within the targeted ranges and help reduce the risk of complications.

If you have diabetes, proactive foot care and regular podiatrist check-ups can significantly reduce your risk of foot-related complications and help you maintain better overall health.