Early Signs Of Diabetic Foot Problems (& What To Do)

Diabetic foot problems often start slowly because diabetes causes nerve damage and poor circulation in your feet. But once they start, these problems can progress rapidly. You can help prevent serious problems by watching for early warning signs and getting care as soon as possible before minor problems turn into ulcers or dangerous infections.

Overview of Diabetic Foot Problems

Over time, chronically high blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) and narrowing of blood vessels. Diabetes-related nerve damage causes less pain sensation in your feet. At the same time, poor circulation causes cuts and other wounds to heal more slowly.

You might not feel small blisters, cuts, or areas of increased pressure on your foot. These issues may also be slow to heal. Reduced blood flow means there are fewer oxygen and nutrients to help repair damaged tissue and fight infection. Your risk of diabetic foot problems is higher if you have had diabetes for many years, have poor blood sugar control, smoke cigarettes, or have had foot ulcers in the past.

Examples of diabetic foot problems include ulcers on the bottom of your foot that result from nerve damage and pressure, infections that can spread deep into your foot tissues and even your bones, and serious foot deformities like Charcot foot that cause your feet to become swollen, warm, and break down.

Signs to Watch For

Skin color or temperature changesYour foot may turn pale or blue. Or one foot may feel cooler than the other. Inflammation from injury or infection can also cause areas of redness or warmth on your foot.

Swelling and painAn area on your foot may swell, especially when you walk. Swelling on one side of your foot can be a sign of infection. Pain and swelling can also be a warning sign of joint damage or Charcot foot.

Loss of feelingYou may experience numbness, tingling, burning in your feet. You may not notice minor cuts or burns because of the lack of feeling in your feet. Loss of sensation can also cause you to not feel heat, cold, or even when you’re standing on something too hard.

Skin doesn’t heal or breaks down easilySmall cuts, blisters, cracks on the heels of your feet, or callused areas may take more than a week or two to heal. Signs of infection such as red streaks, increasing redness or swelling, a foul odor or pus from a wound, or fever may develop. Many foot ulcers start under a callus and aren’t painful until the ulcer forms.

Tips for Daily Foot Care

Carefully inspect your feet every day for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, and wounds that don’t heal. Include the bottoms and the spaces between your toes.Wash your feet with warm water, dry them well, and apply moisturizing lotion. Avoid putting lotion between your toes.Trim toenails carefully. Visit a podiatrist if nails are thick or difficult to trim.Wear shoes that fit well and don’t squeeze your feet. Choose shoes with roomy toes (avoid narrow toe boxes). Wear shoes and seamless socks to protect your feet.Never walk barefoot, even indoors.Keep your blood glucose under control and don’t smoke to improve circulation.

Seek medical care quickly if redness, swelling, warmth, drainage, foul odor, blackened tissue, exposed bone, fever, or changes in shape of your feet develop. Even if you have no other symptoms, make an appointment with your healthcare provider or podiatrist to have your feet checked if you have a wound or any of the other changes mentioned above that doesn’t improve within one to two weeks. Foot exams are an important part of diabetes management and should be done at least once a year. Talk with your healthcare provider about how often you should be examined if you are at increased risk for foot problems.

Key Point

Seek medical care if you experience early signs of diabetic foot problems, including changes in skin color or temperature of your feet, swelling, pain when walking, loss of feeling, wounds or breaks in your skin that are slow to heal, or signs of infection. Daily foot inspections and proper footwear are key to preventing diabetic foot problems.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q1: What are some early signs of diabetic foot problems? 

A: Some early signs of foot problems related to diabetes include numbness or tingling in your feet, changes in the color of your feet, swelling, and cuts that don’t heal quickly.

Q2: Why don’t foot injuries hurt when you have diabetes?

A: Sometimes foot injuries do not hurt when you have diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause nerve damage that affects feeling in your feet.

Q3: How often should a diabetic check his feet?

A: Inspect your feet every day for changes.

Q4: When should you go to the doctor for diabetic foot problems?

A: If your feet are red, swollen, or draining fluid, or you have a wound that isn’t healing, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.

Q5: Can diabetic foot problems be avoided?

A: Yes. Daily foot exams, wearing shoes that fit properly, and keeping your blood sugar levels under control can help you prevent foot problems.