What Diabetes Can Do to Your Feet

Diabetes is of particular focus for podiatrists because of the severe harm it can cause to feet if left unchecked.

Some general effects of diabetes can already put feet at a disadvantage. The first is peripheral artery disease (PAD), which can impair circulation throughout the body.

Since the feet are located so far from the heart, it is already more of a challenge to get blood to them normally (think of how your feet are one of the first parts of you to get cold!). Impeding that blood flow further means that oxygen and nutrients are having an even harder time getting to the feet.

Our cells depend on blood flow to get the energy and tools they need to repair. This means that, with poor circulation, injuries to the feet can take much longer to heal than they would normally.

Poor circulation also means that our nerves are not receiving nourishment as much as they need it, either. Combined with other effects of diabetes, this can lead to neuropathy or damage to the nerves.

Damage to the nerves can cause a loss of sensation in the feet. Add this to the propensity for cuts and sores not to heal quickly and it’s a recipe for disaster.

A small cut to the foot, if not detected, will continue to be walked on and left untreated. It could open up into a larger wound and even an ulcer. The chance of infection rises and, with infection, comes danger to life and the risk of amputation.

This happens too frequently—about 73,000 diabetic amputations of the lower limb per year in the United States alone.

With proper diabetic foot care, however, these situations can usually be avoided!