Feet
Diabetes puts you at a much higher risk of developing foot problems. Being aware of this will help you look after your feet.
Nerve damage
Damage to the nerves can lead to a loss of feeling which means you may not notice an injury or wound to your foot; reduced sweating due to nerve damage can result in hard cracked skin, and foot ulcers can occur. Nerve damage can also, in rare cases, lead to bone and muscle weakness which can change the shape of the foot.
Diabetes can also lead to ‘furring’ up of the arteries, causing reduced blood and oxygen flow to the feet. This can also increase the risk of foot ulcers which means wounds may not heal and can get infected much more easily.
What can I do?
It’s really important to check, wash and moisturise your feet daily; cut or file your toenails regularly; make sure you wear appropriate footwear and treat any minor cuts or blisters immediately. It’s also very important to attend your diabetes foot screening appointment every year. Keeping your blood glucose (sugar) level in the target range will significantly reduce the risk of any foot problems.
To find out more about diabetes and feet, register for our Understanding Type 1 Diabetes or our My Type 2 Diabetes online courses. There is also a list of additional resources about diabetes and feet below. For local services, have a look at the get local section of the website.
Register to access your GP health results
Not sure when you last had your feet checked? If you have diabetes you can register to access your GP diabetes health results through our patient access dashboard.
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