How Does Diabetes Affect My Feet?
After years of living with diabetes, you can develop long-term problems from the disease. Over time, diabetes can damage the blood vessels in your feet and the nerves in your feet. The complications that cause problems for the foot are twofold. You may develop what is called "peripheral neuropathy" – a loss of nerve function in the legs and feet. You could also develop what is called "peripheral vascular disease" – impaired circulation in the legs and feet.
Both of these complications can lead to foot problems in different ways. When nerves are not functioning correctly, you lose feeling in your feet. Your feet can be injured in many ways - from shoes that are the wrong size, from stepping on sharp objects or even from normal everyday activities. Because your nerves are not functioning correctly, you may not notice these injuries. Click on "Common causes of injury" on the menu above (under "more") for more information about foot injuries you can avoid.
Both of these complications can lead to foot problems in different ways. When nerves are not functioning correctly, you lose feeling in your feet. Your feet can be injured in many ways - from shoes that are the wrong size, from stepping on sharp objects or even from normal everyday activities. Because your nerves are not functioning correctly, you may not notice these injuries. Click on "Common causes of injury" on the menu above (under "more") for more information about foot injuries you can avoid.
People with diabetes may develop an ulcer on their foot. An ulcer is a break in the skin that penetrates to deeper layers. If the ulcer is not treated properly, it may not heal. Additionally, if you have peripheral vascular disease in your feet, your feet may not heal properly because they are not receiving adequate blood flow. Continued walking on the foot further prevents the ulcer from healing. The ulcer can become infected and progress to the point where it threatens the foot or leg. Eventually, it can lead to an amputation.
Changes in the bones, ligaments and joints of the foot can also occur in people with diabetes, and may result in collapse of the foot. This is known as Charcot foot. It develops as a result of loss of sensation and an undetected broken bone that leads to destruction of the soft tissue of the foot. Because of diabetic neuropathy, the pain of the fracture goes unnoticed and the person continues to walk on the broken bone, making the problem worse. This complication is so severe that surgery, and sometimes amputation, may become necessary.
Poor circulation and neuropathy can make your skin dry. Dry skin may seem harmless, but it can result in cracks that become infected. Click on "Taking care of your feet" on the menu above for more information about moisturizing your feet to keep your skin healthy.
Hammertoes and bunions can form when nerve damage causes muscle weakness and loss of tone in the feet and toes. Hammertoes and bunions can make walking painful. If left untreated, they can cause ulcers.
Hammertoes and bunions can form when nerve damage causes muscle weakness and loss of tone in the feet and toes. Hammertoes and bunions can make walking painful. If left untreated, they can cause ulcers.
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