Unquestionably, in the world of healthcare, diabetes affects people on a great level. And if diabetes isn’t under control, it can cause various other effects on the body. Diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels rise above normal because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin properly. Moreover, diabetes can cause uncontrollable sugar that can directly impact your feet as well. Yes, feet! Were you aware of how such high sugar levels can reduce the blood flow in your feet? Further, this can lead to other problems as well. A diabetic foot can lead to a variety of complications; these include nerve damage, decreased blood circulation, and increased susceptibility to infections, all of which pose significant risks to a diabetic’s overall health.

 Thus, it is important to look after your diabetes and have it under control. This is how you can reduce the risks and keep your feet healthy as well as your overall body health. This blog will dive deep into how diabetes can impact your feet.

 High blood sugar can sometimes be uncontrollable, and its impact on the feet can be seen. High blood sugar levels can gradually damage blood vessels and restrict blood flow to organs and other parts of the body. Foot health issues can lead to many other problems, and that is why it is crucial not to overlook them and get them treated by the best doctor.

 How does diabetes affect the feet

 Diabetic neuropathy: We already know diabetes affects one’s health. However, it can have many serious complications, such as nerve damage. When one’s sugar level is beyond control, it can damage their nerves on a greater level. Also, it is said that this is kind of painless. You may not feel pain, heat, or cold in your legs or feet if you have damaged nerves in those areas. We refer to this lack of sensation as “sensory diabetic neuropathy.” Although it is painless, it can get worse with time and infect it. Having a painless cut has many limitations too; once it gets infected, you will have a hard time in your legs as your foot muscles won’t function properly. This leads to improper foot alignment. Hence, it can become dangerous if not treated properly. Uncontrollable diabetes can be harmful, so it is advisable to get the proper treatment. In diabetic neuropathy, one doesn’t feel the pain, and hence it is possible that you won’t notice it for a longer period. If such wounds are not treated for a long time, they can worsen things for you in the future. Immediate treatment of the wounds is necessary for such types of problems.

 Charcot foot 

Another condition that is widely known and caused by nerve damage from diabetes is called Charcot foot. It is generally a rare condition. Diabetes generally weakens the bones on a great level, and before you could even realize it, it would be too late, as due to a loss of sensation, one cannot feel any kind of pain, and it can get worse if not treated on time and properly. You will keep walking on broken bones, and deformity will make it worse as you will continue walking without realizing it. It should be noted that when joints dislocate and collapse, deformity results in many things. In addition, the foot’s arch frequently collapses, giving the soles of the feet a rounded appearance. There are many signs of Charcot foot, such as swelling and redness in the feet.

Gangrene

Diabetes has the worst effect on the body’s health. It impacts the blood vessels on a great level. These blood vessels assist in supplying blood to fingers and toes. If these blood vessels are damaged, it can cause issues as well. Less blood flow to your feet can make it more difficult for sores or infections to heal. Untreated infections can lead to gangrene, which is the death of tissue because of a reduced blood supply. If it is not treated, it can be dangerous as it will start affecting other parts of the body. For example, if the condition worsens, doctors sometimes must amputate a toe or leg so that it doesn’t affect other body parts.

 Peripheral vascular disease

As we already know, it is important for the blood to flow freely. However, diabetes can have an impact on blood flow as well, further leading to many complications. When there is a poor flow of blood, a sore cut takes time to heal. The poor blood flow in the legs and arms is called peripheral vascular disease. If there is an infection and it goes unnoticed for a longer time, it won’t heal immediately due to poor blood flow, which leads to the development of ulcers. Although anyone can develop this condition, diabetics are more likely to do so because blood vessel abnormalities frequently obstruct normal blood flow. Furthermore, blood that is too thick to flow easily can be thickened by high blood sugar.

 Abscess

Some infections are truly dangerous and harmful. These infections eat into tissues as well as bones, and pus is created, which is called an abscess. The basic treatment is getting it to drain out. Although some bone or tissue may need to be removed, more recent techniques like oxygen therapy involve less intrusive measures.

 What are the signs of foot issues with diabetes

 Now that we are aware of how diabetes impacts the foot and causes so many complications, there are numerous signs that should be checked for! If you have any of these, it is advisable to contact a doctor as soon as possible. Poor blood circulation is the leading cause of most of the problems. The signs that should be taken as a warning are:

•  Numbness and tingling sensations in the legs
• Loss of feeling anything in the legs
• Dry cracks in the skin
• Blisters on the feet
• Peeling of soles of feet
• Swelling in the feet
• Open sores on the feet
• Corns or calluses

Conclusion 

 In conclusion, uncontrollable diabetes can put one’s life in danger. Also, diabetes and foot ulcers are related, and it is important to get them checked as soon as you see any signs, as it is crucial to get them treated before they get too dangerous and harmful for the body! Many treatment options are available!