Diabetes causes a wide range of problems in the body, including poor circulation and never damage. These effects cause lead to food ulcers, pain, blisters, and foot infections. In some severe cases, the infection can spread from the feet to other organs in the body, becoming life-threatening. Some foot infections can cause doctors to amputate the feet.
While not all patients with diabetes develop foot complications, diabetes remains the number one cause of foot amputations. Diabetes is caused by insulin resistance or insulin deficiency. Insulin hormone helps cells absorb sugar/glucose in the blood and convert it to energy. When the process does not work correctly, the sugar remains in the bloodstream causing major health problems.
This post will overview how poorly managed diabetes can cause foot problems and how you can prevent or manage these effects.
Types of Foot Problems Due to Diabetes
Here are some foot problems associated with diabetes:
Diabetic Neuropathy
Patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). This is more often when they do not know how to take their medication; they have difficulty managing their blood sugar levels. PVD is characterized by fat deposits narrowing the blood vessels and reducing circulation.
PVD affects blood vessels leading to and from the extremities, such as feet and hands reducing the flow to both. Reduced blood flow leads to infection, pain, and wounds healing slowly. If not well managed, PVD can eventually cause nerve damage, leading to numb feet. This makes it hard for people with diabetes to feel any sensation in their extremities. This means they may not feel soreness, irritation, or infection until their shoes are rubbing. The lack of sensation leads to delayed treatment.
Blisters
Diabetes increases the risk of blisters first due to diabetic neuropathy, which makes it hard to know when shoes do not fit. It can also lead to a condition known as bullous diabeticorum, which is the spontaneous formation of blisters. Doctors do not have an explanation for why the blisters appear. The blisters often become infected and spread through the body.
Diabetic Ulcers
At least 7% of patients diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy develop foot ulcers yearly. Never damage and poor circulation mean that the patient might not notice they have the ulcers until they are severe. Weak circulation in the feel leads to slow healing, and if left untreated, the ulcers can damage the food once infected.
What Are the Foot Symptoms of Diabetic Patients?
The symptoms vary from one person to another based on the specific issues a person might be experiencing at the time. However, some of the symptoms include:
- Numbness or tingling
- Loss of feeling
- Blisters without pain
- Read streaks on the feet
- Discoloration and temperature changes
- Staining socks
- Painful tingling
In case of an infection, a person might experience some of the following symptoms:
- Feeling very sick
- Fever
- Chills
- Shaking
- Redness
- Shock
- Uncontrollable blood sugar
Diabetes Food Care Tips
If you have diabetes, it is vital to take care of your feet to prevent any complications. To keep your feet healthy, you must be vigilant with your foot hygiene. Here are some steps to take care of your feet:
- Wash your feet daily
- Check your feet every day
- Wear supportive socks and shoes
- Increase blood flow to your feet by putting your feet up when sitting and wiggling them often
- Trim your toenails often and ensure they are always straight
- Care for bunions and corns
- Go for regular examining of your feet
- Avoid smoking
- Control your blood sugar levels
- Protect your feet from extreme temperatures. Exposing your feet to extreme cold or heat can damage your feet.
Diabetes foot problems often occur due to restricted blood flow and unnoticed infections and cuts developed due to nerve damage around the area. Diabetic patients must receive regular foot examinations and maintain hygiene with their feet to ensure that nothing goes unnoticed. If the infection becomes uncontrollable, you risk amputation to prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of your body.
