I'm Diabetic, Why Do I Need to Look After My Feet?

When you’re managing diabetes, your daily focus often revolves around glucose readings, diet, and medication. While these are essential, there’s one part of your body that demands equal, consistent attention: your feet. For individuals with diabetes, foot care is not an optional extra—it is a fundamental defence against life-changing health complications.

The Foundation: Why Control Is Everything

The most important step in protecting your feet actually happens far above your ankles: keeping your diabetes well-controlled. Over many months and years, persistently high blood glucose levels act like a slow poison to your body’s critical systems. The key systems affected are the nervous system and the circulatory system. When blood sugar is managed tightly, the progression of damage is dramatically slowed or prevented entirely.

The Dual Threat: Effects of Poorly Controlled Diabetes

Poorly controlled diabetes leads to a dangerous dual threat in your lower limbs.

Firstly, there is diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage). High glucose levels gradually damage nerve fibres, particularly those furthest from your core. This results in reduced or lost sensation in your feet

You could step on a tack, develop a deep blister from a stiff shoe, or suffer a painful cut—and literally feel nothing. Because the injury goes unnoticed, you continue walking on it, turning a minor issue into a severe wound.

Secondly, there is poor blood circulation, medically known as Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). Diabetes narrows and hardens the blood vessels, restricting the flow of oxygen and nutrients to your feet. Blood is the body’s healing and infection-fighting system. If circulation is impaired, your body cannot deliver the necessary resources to heal wounds. A simple, unnoticed injury can become a serious, slow-healing foot ulcer. These chronic, infected wounds are the primary reason for diabetic-related amputations worldwide. The progression from a minor, painless scratch to a complex infection is why preventative care is absolutely vital.

Your Peace of Mind: The Podiatrist is Your Expert

This is where the specialised knowledge of a podiatrist becomes your greatest asset. A podiatrist is a dedicated foot specialist, and for a person with diabetes, they act as an early-warning system and a proactive defence force.

A podiatrist has the training and tools to assess and manage high-risk feet. They can:

• Conduct crucial checks: They perform nerve sensation and circulation tests as well as checking the health of your skin and nails.

• Manage minor issues: They safely trim thick or ingrown toenails, shave calluses—things that can be dangerous to attempt yourself. They can advise on how to treat and manage other ailments, like athlete’s foot. 

• Prevent ulcers: They identify high-pressure areas and prescribe specialised footwear or orthotics to redistribute weight and prevent the formation of ulcers before they start.
  

Regular visits (typically every 3 to 6 months) give you peace of mind, knowing that an expert is monitoring for the earliest signs of trouble. Taking this step is a powerful commitment to your long-term health, ensuring you maintain mobility and independence.

Prioritising your foot health through dedicated daily care, tight blood sugar control, and professional podiatric check-ups is one of the most effective ways you can fight back against the long-term effects of diabetes. Also, check out Diabetes UK online for community, advice and more information on how to look after your feet.

Blood sugar check (credit: Photo by isens usa on Unsplash)