How Does Diabetes Affect My Feet?

People commonly think of Diabetes as a disease that interferes with glucose levels in the blood stream.  What they may not realize is that this disease has several chronic complications including, among others, diabetic foot.  Below you will find the most common symptoms and complications that can arise from Diabetes and affect the health of your feet.

SKIN: Diabetes can cause the skin on your feet to become exceptionally dry.  What is happening is that the nerves that control oil and moisture levels in your skin are no longer functioning properly.  The skin on your feet is no longer able to regulate moisture levels and so it peels and cracks.  As part of your foot-care routine, it is a good idea to moisturize daily.  Any unscented lotion will do; some people even prefer to use petroleum jelly.  Be sure to rub the lotion in thoroughly so that you don’t end up sticking damp feet into shoes and socks and increase your risks of infection.  

CALLUSES AND CORNS: Calluses and corns form when there is excess pressure on certain areas of the feet.  They are the foot’s way of protecting itself and are often a sign of ill-fitting shoes or socks.  Calluses and corns are a more serious concern for a diabetic because without the proper care they can turn into foot ulcers, or open sores on the foot.
FOOT ULCERS: Foot Ulcers are open sores on the foot.  They are particularly dangerous for diabetics because of the possibility of infection.  The combination of neuropathy (lack of sensation in the foot) and poor circulation in diabetics leads to delayed detection of ulcers and difficulty fighting a spreading infection.

POOR CIRCULATION:  Consistently high levels of glucose in the blood stream can cause chronic damage to the circulatory system.  Blood vessels take in higher levels of glucose, and as a result, produce higher levels of glycoproteins.  These glycoproteins build up in the blood vessels, making their cell walls exceptionally thick and weak.  The thickness of these walls leads to reduced blood flow which in turn weakens the body’s ability to fight infection in the feet.

NEUROPATHY:  Many diabetics suffer from neuropathy, or reduced sensitivity of the nervous system.  It can be very difficult for diabetics to notice foot pain, and therefore, common foot ailments such as calluses, corns, cuts, blisters often go unnoticed and untreated.

AMPUTATION: When an infection is not identified and treated early, it can spread to the bone and the rest of the body.  If the infection is severe enough, amputation may be necessary.