How Does Diabetes Affect Your Feet?

Over 11% of the United States population lives with diabetes. If you’re among them, you have a more than 34% chance of developing a foot-related complication at some point.

Thankfully, diabetes complications can be treated or even prevented. And the more seriously you take your blood sugar and foot health, the less likely you’ll develop the worst-case scenarios.

At Mayfair Foot Care in Commack, New York, Drs. Edward Buro, Christine Peterson, and Rosario Saccomanno diagnose and treat food issues linked with diabetes to enhance your wellness and quality of life.

Let’s delve into diabetes-related foot conditions, including ways to prevent them.

How diabetes affects your feet

You can develop nerve damage when your blood sugar levels run high or are poorly controlled repeatedly or long-term. Also known as diabetic neuropathy, this condition can cause a range of issues throughout your body, including foot issues like:

• Chronic foot pain
• Tingling
• Numbness

If you lose feeling in your feet, you run the risk of blisters, cuts, and sores. You don’t notice that you stepped on a small piece of glass or pebble. The object can burrow inside, causing an injury you may not notice. The wound can worsen and become infected if you don’t see it.

Research shows that more than half of diabetic foot ulcers become infected and require hospital care. And 20% of those infections lead to foot amputation.

How to prevent diabetic foot complications

Taking your diabetes medication as prescribed and leading a diabetes-friendly lifestyle can help keep you and your feet healthy long-term. While you’re at it, we recommend routine foot checkups. 

At Mayfair Foot Care, we offer diabetes foot consultations to help keep your wellness in check. If you notice one of the following symptoms, schedule an appointment swiftly:

• Changes in your toenails
• Discolored skin on your feet or legs 
• Foot pain, redness, or swelling
• Loss of hair on your legs or feet
• Reduced ability to sense hot or cold

Regardless of any symptoms, we recommend seeing a podiatrist for an exam once per year.

You should also get into the habit of checking your feet for blisters and wounds that may not be causing obvious symptoms. Smoothing out calluses and corns and trimming and filing your toenails can benefit your foot health, too. 

Lastly, wash your feet well daily and wear comfortable shoes and socks for added protection. 

To learn more about diabetes and your feet or get started with the care you need, call Mayfair Foot Care or book an appointment through our website today.