Diabetes and Your Feet

Why Does Diabetes Affect Your Feet?

Diabetes is a vascular disease which means that the vascular or circulatory system of the body is affected. The circulatory system is responsible for sending oxygen to the various parts of the body, including the feet. When that is affected, it lowers the blood flow to the feet and hence the amount of oxygen that gets to the feet also decreases. 

Common Foot Problems for Diabetics

• Diabetic neuropathy – Nerve damage to the legs and feet

• Gangrene – Tissue death due to lack of blood flow

• Footulcers – Open sores on the foot

• Charcot’s foot – Changes to the shape of the feet

Danger of Ignoring Diabetes Related Foot Problems

It is rightly said that diabetics have to take good care of their feet. Due to the decrease in blood flow to the feet, the feet could get numb. This means that even if there is an injury to the feet, the person may not be aware of it.

Diabetics are also prone to sores and foot ulcers that occur due to a decrease in blood flow to the extremities. It takes a long time for an infection to subside for a diabetic. Very often, infections like foot sores can fester and become septic and even the area around it can get infected. The infection can also spread very rapidly as the body of a diabetic doesn’t heal quickly.

How to Prevent Diabetes Related Foot Problems

Diabetics have to be very careful with their feet because of the aforementioned reasons. They should ensure that they follow proper foot hygiene. They should make sure that their feet are looked after and any problems that arise are tended to immediately. They should see a podiatrist regularly if they are prone to foot problems and ensure that there is nothing to worry about. Problems like ingrown toe nails, cuts, sores or red spots, corns, calluses and plantar warts should all be treated immediately and the problem nipped in the bud.