According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 38 million Americans — approximately 1 in 10 — are living with diabetes. While much of the public conversation about diabetes focuses on blood sugar management, cardiovascular health, and weight, the impact of diabetes on the feet is one of the most serious and frequently overlooked complications of this disease. For diabetic patients, proactive foot care is not optional — it is essential.
How Diabetes Damages the Feet
Diabetes affects the feet through two primary mechanisms, and both can be present simultaneously.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Chronically elevated blood glucose levels gradually damage the peripheral nerves — the network of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord responsible for sensation, motor function, and autonomic regulation. In the feet, this manifests as diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a progressive loss of sensation that may begin with tingling, burning, or numbness and can eventually result in near-complete absence of pain perception.
This loss of protective sensation is extraordinarily dangerous. When you cannot feel pain, small injuries — a blister from a tight shoe, a pebble in your sock, a minor cut — can go completely unnoticed. What would be a routine minor injury in a healthy individual can develop into a serious infection or non-healing wound in a diabetic patient.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Diabetes also accelerates the development of atherosclerosis, causing narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the legs and feet. Reduced blood flow means that the foot’s natural ability to heal is significantly impaired. Oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells — all delivered via the bloodstream — are in short supply, turning even small wounds into chronic ulcers that resist healing.
When neuropathy and PAD are present together, the risk of severe complications, including limb-threatening infection and amputation, rises dramatically.
The Scope of the Problem
The statistics surrounding diabetic foot complications are sobering. According to the American Diabetes Association:
- Diabetic patients are 10 to 20 times more likely to undergo a lower-extremity amputation than non-diabetic individuals
- Approximately 50% of all non-traumatic lower-extremity amputations in the United States occur in people with diabetes
- Up to 85% of diabetes-related amputations are preceded by a foot ulcer
- The five-year mortality rate following a lower-extremity amputation due to diabetes is estimated at 45% to 80%
These numbers underscore why early, consistent podiatric monitoring is so critical for diabetic patients.
What Every Diabetic Patient Should Do
The good news is that the vast majority of diabetes-related foot complications are preventable with proper care. Here is what diabetic patients should do to protect their feet:
- Inspect your feet daily — Check the entire surface of both feet every day, using a mirror for the bottom. Look for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, or any change in skin color or temperature. If you cannot see the bottom of your feet, ask a family member to help.
- Keep feet clean and moisturized — Wash your feet daily in warm (not hot) water, dry thoroughly between the toes, and apply a non-irritating moisturizer to the top and bottom of your feet. Do not apply moisturizer between the toes, as this can promote fungal growth.
- Never walk barefoot — Even indoors, diabetic patients should wear appropriate footwear to protect the feet from injury.
- Wear properly fitting footwear — Shoes that are too tight, too loose, or poorly constructed are a leading cause of diabetic foot wounds. Consider diabetic-specific footwear designed to minimize pressure points.
- Trim toenails carefully — Cut nails straight across and file any sharp edges. Improper nail care is a common cause of ingrown toenails, which can quickly become infected in diabetic patients.
- Never attempt “bathroom surgery” — Do not attempt to cut corns, calluses, or ingrown toenails at home. These should always be treated professionally.
- Control blood sugar levels — Maintaining blood glucose within target ranges significantly slows the progression of neuropathy and reduces infection risk.
- Schedule regular podiatric exams — The American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetic patients receive a comprehensive foot exam at least once a year, with more frequent visits for those with risk factors.
Professional Diabetic Foot Care at New Canaan Podiatry
At New Canaan Podiatry in New Canaan, CT, Dr. Jennifer Tauber, DPM, is board-certified in diabetic wound care and diabetic footwear. Our comprehensive diabetic foot care program includes neuropathy screening, vascular assessment with Smart ABI testing, wound evaluation and management, custom diabetic footwear and orthotics, and patient education on daily foot care practices.
If you or a loved one is living with diabetes, do not delay scheduling a professional foot evaluation. Call (203) 548-7688 or book your appointment online today.
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