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How diabetes affects the feet
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Mar 23, 2025
@marcbarry1000 A Podiatrist discusses how diabetes can adversely affect the feet, in severe cases, leading to amputation. For a complete discussion visit: https://www.foot-pain-explained.com/diabetic-foot.html
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in this video we are going to discuss
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how diabetes affects the feet the
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diabetic foot includes diabetic
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neuropathy and peripheral vascular
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disease both of these can have serious
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outcomes estimates run as high as 26
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million Americans suffer from diabetes
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both diagnosed and
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undiagnosed furthermore 25% of people
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with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer
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during their lifetime over half of these
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ulcers will be become infected and
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require hospitalization and 20% of these
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infections will result in
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amputation appropriate Foot Care is one
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of the most overlooked aspects of the
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diabetics daily regimen the feet along
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with the eyes heart and kidneys all have
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the potential for serious consequences
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in a disease that many do not take
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seriously and choose to ignore what are
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the symptoms of diabetic foot pain as
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the disease relates to the foot two
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major events occur as the disease
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progresses
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the first is
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neuropathy many diabetics eventually
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lose sensation in their feet this is
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known as diabetic
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neuropathy there are three types the
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first is autonomic
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neuropathy this this is the simplest and
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earliest type of
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neuropathy it is seen as nothing more
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than dry skin usually accompanied with
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athletes foot the skin on the bottom of
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the feet particularly in the heel area
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will be very dry and scaly the problem
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here is that if the condition is not
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identified properly it can lead to
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breakdown of the skin and
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infection the next type of neuropathy in
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the diabetic is sensory neuropathy which
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presents itself as Relentless burning
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tingling or numbness in the diabetic
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foot the problem with neuropathy is
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multifaceted with lack of sensation on
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the bottom of the diabetic foot a person
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is at risk for stepping on something
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such as a broken piece of glass in the
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kitchen and not even knowing it the area
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then can become infected and at that
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point if the patient blood sugars are
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not under control and the circulation to
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the area is compromised the body is
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unable to heal the infection and in many
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cases can lead to
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amputation factually diabetes is the
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major factor in over 50% of amputations
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performed in the United States each year
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another problem with neuropathy can be a
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Relentless feeling of burning tingling
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or numbness that is not alleviated by
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anything the diabetic does diabetic
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neuropathy usually occurs in both feet
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and will occur continuously day and
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night there are various medications on
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the market for diabetic neuropathy all
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with varying degrees of
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success lria is probably the most
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popularly prescribed medication for
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diabetic
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neuropathy the third type of neuropathy
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is motor
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neuropathy in this situation elevated
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blood sugars will affect the nerves that
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inovate the muscles of the foot and
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lower leg and will cause changes in the
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way the muscles function this abnormal
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function may lead to a more rapid onset
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of hammer toes and bunions as well as
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trophic changes in the muscles
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themselves leading to arthritic changes
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within the feet the other diabetes
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related factor to the feet is peripheral
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vascular
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disease over time diabetes causes the
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arteries going into the feet to
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essentially become clogged and in doing
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so reduces the blood flow to the feet
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this creates various problems the most
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common being the inability of the tissue
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of the feet to get adequate
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nutrition the skin becomes dry thin
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scaly we lose fat on the bottom of the
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feet and the bones become
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demineralized this then makes the foot
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more susceptible to infection and
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difficulty in Walking adequate blood
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flow is necessary to the feet in order
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to help heal wounds if a person cuts
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themselves or steps on a broken piece of
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glass we need need adequate blood flow
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to the area to bring nutrients to repair
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the wound in a diabetic this can be a
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problem due to lack of
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circulation a foot ulcer is usually the
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culmination of elevated blood sugars
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diabetic neuropathy and poor
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circulation so how do we protect the
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diabetic foot the first thing is to
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control your blood sugars no diabetic
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should take their disease for granted
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and should be proactive in their
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approach to their diabetes
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the closer a person's blood sugars are
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kept to normal on a daily basis the less
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damage that is being done this is more
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the case in adult onset diabetes
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otherwise known as type 2
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diabetes next is examination of the
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diabetic foot a diabetic should also
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inspect their feet daily both visually
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and by rubbing their hands along the
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bottom of their feet feeling for
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anything that may not feel normal
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anything questionable observations
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should be brought to the attention of
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their foot specialist
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immediately for older individuals who do
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not bend very well placing a mirror on
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the floor and lifting your foot over the
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mirror is a good way to visually inspect
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your feet the next protection is
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moisturizing your feet the feet should
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be hydrated daily to keep the skin soft
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and supple for most people a good hand
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cream will work just fine as previously
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mentioned diabetics tend to have drier
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skin than the general population and
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thus the skin is more prone to breaking
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down the goal is to keep the skin from
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breaking down which can lead to
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infection and that's what we're looking
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to avoid the cream should be used daily
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and some individuals may have to apply
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the cream more than once per day next
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proper daily hygiene which includes
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washing the feet well with soap and
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water including in between the toes then
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drying them very well once again
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application of good Hydrating Lotion is
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recommended immediately ately
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thereafter this is especially important
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in the winter months when skin in
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general gets dry due to low humidity in
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the air next proper fitting shoes are
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also very
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important diabetics should wear
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non-constricting shoes as shoes that are
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too tight will cause unnecessary
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pressure points on the feet which can
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break down and become infected in an
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effort to avoid pressure points many
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patients will go out and buy larger
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shoes there is a fallacy with this logic
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shoes that are too big will cause the
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feet to have excessive motion within the
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shoe which will also create friction
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eventually leading to breakdown of the
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skin along with a good pair of shoes a
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diabetic should also have a good pair of
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orthotics to support their feet when
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there is abnormal sensation and the
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patient cannot really feel the ground
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the Bony architecture of the foot will
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begin to break down an orthotic helps
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keep the foot upright and prevents
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abnormal stresses plac B upon it lastly
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no diabetic should ever take a sharp
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instrument to their feet in what we
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refer to as bathroom surgery if there is
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something on the foot that is of concern
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such as an ingrown nail or a painful
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corn it should immediately be brought to
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the attention of a foot
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specialist trying to cut out an ingrown
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nail or trim a corn are examples of
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conditions that are better left to The
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Experts working to keep your blood
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sugars controlled and paying attention
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to any changes in your feet is the best
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way to prevent foot problems down the
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road
#Blood Sugar & Diabetes