About half of all people with diabetes have some kind of nerve damage, most often in the feet and legs. Some feel numbness, tingling or pain; others feel nothing at all. Nerve damage can dull your sense of pain, heat and cold — and pain is how the body warns you. Without it you may not notice a cut, blister or sore, and a small problem can turn serious.
How diabetes can affect your feet. CDC
Why it matters
Nerve damage and poor blood flow — another diabetes complication — raise the risk of a foot ulcer (a sore or wound). With diabetes, an ulcer can become infected and heal poorly; if treatment fails, a toe, foot or leg may have to be amputated to stop the infection spreading and save your life. Checking your feet every day catches problems early, and early treatment greatly lowers the risk of amputation.
Who is at higher risk of nerve damage
Anyone with diabetes can develop it, but the risk is higher with:
- blood sugar that is hard to manage
- diabetes for a long time, especially with blood sugar often above target
- overweight
- age over 40
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
Preventing or delaying it
Keeping blood sugar in your target range as much as possible is one of the most important things you can do. Also:
- Don't smoke — it reduces blood flow to the feet.
- Follow a healthy eating plan.
- Be active — 10 to 20 minutes a day beats an hour once a week, and either beats none.
- Take your medicines as prescribed.
Everyday foot care
| Do | How |
|---|---|
| Check your feet daily | look for cuts, redness, swelling, sores, blisters, corns, calluses, or changes in skin or nails — even if they feel fine. Use a mirror for the soles, or ask a family member |
| Wash them daily | in warm, not hot water; don't soak them. Dry completely, then put lotion on the tops and soles — never between the toes, which can lead to infection |
| Never go barefoot | wear shoes and socks or slippers, even indoors. Check shoes for pebbles and make sure the lining is smooth |
| Wear shoes that fit | try new shoes on at the end of the day, when feet are largest; break them in slowly, an hour or two a day; always wear socks |
| Trim nails straight across | smooth sharp edges with a file; if you can't see or reach your feet, have a podiatrist do it |
| Leave corns and calluses alone | don't remove them yourself or with over-the-counter products, which can burn the skin |
| Get your feet checked | at every primary care visit, and see a foot doctor for a full exam every year — more often with nerve damage — including tests of feeling and blood flow |
| Keep blood flowing | put your feet up when sitting; wiggle your toes for a few minutes several times a day |
| Choose foot-friendly exercise | walking, cycling, swimming — ask your doctor what suits you and what to avoid |
When to see a doctor right away
Don't wait for your next appointment — see your regular doctor or foot doctor if you have:
- leg pain, or cramping in the buttocks, thighs or calves during activity
- tingling, burning or pain in the feet
- loss of touch, or trouble feeling heat or cold
- a change in the shape of your feet
- hair loss on the toes, feet or lower legs
- dry, cracked skin
- a change in the color or temperature of your feet
- thickened, yellow toenails
- fungal infections such as athlete's foot between the toes
- a blister, sore, ulcer, infected corn or ingrown toenail
Diabetes foot problems: when to see your doctor. CDC
Most people with diabetes can prevent serious foot problems — with regular care at home and every doctor's appointment kept.
Sources
Based on "Your Feet and Diabetes," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain. The page's photograph was a stock image and is not reproduced.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.cdc.gov
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