admin@thefeetpeople.com.au

(07) 3356 3579

BOOK NOW
BOOK NOW

Jump to section

Icon not found How Diabetes Can Affect Your Feet
Icon not found Common Foot Issues Caused By Diabetes
Icon not found Diabetes Can Make Some Foot Problems More Serious
Icon not found How Diabetics Can Keep Their Feet Healthy
Icon not found When To See A Qualified Podiatrist About Diabetes-Related Foot Problems

When many people think of diabetes, they think of keeping their blood sugar under control using diet, exercise, insulin, and other factors. So it comes as a surprise to many that diabetes also poses a significant risk to your feet, so much so that Australians suffer more than 4,400 diabetes-related amputations each year - that’s 12 per day, 85% of which are preventable. This is one of the reasons why working with a podiatrist to understand your risks, monitor your progress, and help protect your foot health is vital if you have diabetes.

How Diabetes Can Affect Your Feet

There are two primary ways in which diabetes affects the feet, which can put you at risk of a wide range of pains, problems and complications:

1. Diminished Sensation 

The nerves in our feet and legs are responsible for our sensation, meaning our ability to feel and detect everything our feet come into contact with, from the soft feeling of putting on our socks, to painful abrasions and the sharp pain of standing on a splinter. The effects of diabetes can damage the nerves to our feet, which means that our ability to feel can worsen, become mixed up, and may eventually be lost altogether. This is called peripheral neuropathy. 

Neuropathy can present as numbness, burning, tingling, or pins and needles that can come on at any time, not just when you’re standing. The most dangerous sensation change is the complete absence of feeling around the feet, as opposed to a numb feeling where you still detect some pressure and other changes. When the feeling in your feet is lost entirely, it means that you can sustain a wound, not know that it is there, and hence not take the right measures to disinfect it, dress it and help it heal. This puts your feet at significant risk of complications.

2. Impaired Circulation

Alongside damaging the nerves, the effects of diabetes also commonly damage the blood vessels, meaning that your circulation to the feet can become impaired. A reduction in your circulation means that your tissues don’t receive the regular, healthy amount of blood (with the oxygen, nutrients and immune cells) they need to thrive and effectively carry out their essential cellular processes. You may notice changes in the feet like a pale, dry skin appearance, brittle toenails, perpetually cold feet, and a lack of hair growth on the toes. 

Common Foot Issues Caused By Diabetes

The effects of diabetes on a person’s sensation and circulation can lead to a range of foot issues including:

Wounds That Go Unnoticed

Without the ability to detect when we hurt ourselves or cut our feet, this can easily leave people with wounds that go unnoticed, particularly when it’s on the underside of the foot, or the back of the heel. When we don’t know we have a wound, we don’t know that we need to take care of it, and it may end up worsening instead of getting better.

Slow-Healing Wounds

Without a good blood supply to any wounds, this can slow wound healing, leaving wounds open for longer which increases their risk of infection.

Increased Infection Risk

Infections start when bacteria enter the body through breaks in the skin. When infections are not properly managed, they can quickly turn serious and lead to complications like cellulitis and sepsis, spreading through the bloodstream. Secondary infections can also develop, and it is more difficult for your body to clear any infections with or without antibiotics because of the impaired blood flow.

Increased Ulcer Risk

Wounds that are slow to heal and have poor circulation to them have an increased rate of ulceration, which is why up to 20,000 Australians are estimated to have a diabetic foot ulcer at any one time.

Increased Amputation Risk

Diabetic foot disease is the leading cause of lower limb amputations in Australia aside from trauma. When you have a slow healing ulcer, and an increased risk of infection, your risk of amputation as a result of unmanaged wounds and infection increases.

Dry Skin And Brittle Nails

The effects of diabetes on the nerves and circulation can cause the skin to become dry, and the toenails to become brittle.

Fungal Nail Infections & Athlete’s Foot

The increased risk of infection in diabetes also extends to more superficial infections including fungal nail infections and an Athlete’s foot fungal skin infection.

Diabetes Can Make Some Foot Problems More Serious

Diabetes can also make existing foot problems more serious. Common examples include corns and callus on high pressure areas on the bottom of the feet, where you’d normally be able to detect that the level of skin build-up has become painful and requires treatment before damage occurs. Due to the effects of diabetes you may no longer be able to detect this tipping point. We see similar scenarios in those with bunions and hammertoes, whose feet are prone to rubbing against their shoe, and can no longer detect when this has become painful or dangerous for their foot health.

Another serious complication of diabetes is charcot foot, where the bones in your feet weaken, fracture and dislocate - essentially collapsing. Unfortunately, many people cannot detect this process is happening, and it is often too late when it is detected and their feet have undergone a permanent change to their structure and function, often referred to as developing a ‘rocker bottom’ foot.

When To See A Qualified Podiatrist About Diabetes-Related Foot Problems

Aside from your annual diabetic foot health check, we highly recommend coming in to see a podiatrist any time you notice any new cuts or wounds on your feet that have not shown signs of healing after 2-3 days, that are swollen, red or painful, or anytime that you have concerns regarding your foot health. With diabetes, it’s best not to delay getting your feet seen or cared for, to help you get the best outcomes, as so many diabetic foot problems and complications are preventable.

You can book in with one of our podiatrists in Brisbane City or Newmarket here.

How Diabetics Can Keep Their Feet Healthy

People with diabetes must take extra precautions to help look after their feet. The symptoms of diabetes progressively worsen over many years, and how quickly this occurs is often influenced by how well controlled the diabetes and blood sugar is, alongside other factors. To help look after your foot health, we recommend:

• Checking your feet daily for any possible problems, specifically looking out for redness, swelling, cuts, splinters, blisters or pus. Hold your feet up to a mirror to check their undersides, and get a family member to help if possible.
  
• Wash and thoroughly dry your feet daily, especially between your toes. This gives you another opportunity to check the integrity of the skin of your feet and monitor for any changes.
  
• If you do notice anything unusual, report it to your podiatrist or doctor promptly.
  
• Moisturise your feet daily to help prevent dry skin that can further reduce feeling around the feet, but avoid the area between the toes to help prevent foot cream from accumulating there and causing the skin to become too moist, and being at risk of breaking down
  
• Avoid walking barefoot - keep your feet protected to minimise your risk of injury, including wearing slippers around the home
  
• Avoid using over-the-counter corn pads or razors — it may cause unexpected damage to the skin
  
• Cut your toenails straight across, with good quality nail clippers, and file the corners and edges. 
  
• Wear comfortable and well-fitted shoes. If you’re unsure about the best shoes for your feet, we can help and give you personalised recommendations at your next appointment
  
• Wear diabetic or bamboo socks. These have many added benefits such as being seamless
  
• Avoid having your feet in close contact with direct heat including: heaters, hot water bottles & electric blankets
  
• Most importantly, have your feet checked at least once per year by a podiatrist, as per the Australian recommendations. Not only will they do a comprehensive check of your feet, but they will assess your current risk levels and give you the best, timely advice.

When To See A Qualified Podiatrist About Diabetes-Related Foot Problems

Aside from your annual diabetic foot health check, we highly recommend coming in to see a podiatrist any time you notice any new cuts or wounds on your feet that have not shown signs of healing after 2-3 days, that are swollen, red or painful, or anytime that you have concerns regarding your foot health. With diabetes, it’s best not to delay getting your feet seen or cared for, to help you get the best outcomes, as so many diabetic foot problems and complications are preventable.

You can book in with one of our podiatrists in Brisbane City or Newmarket here.