Diabetes often affects the feet, sometimes devastatingly so. But we can reduce the risk of developing problems of the diabetic foot. If you have suffered serious complications in one leg, there are steps to protect the other. Read on to see how.
Image by Jazmin Qaynor from Unsplash
How Does Diabetes Affect the Feet?
Diabetes is essentially a problem of long-standing high blood sugar levels. The excess sugar in the blood causes damage to the lining of blood vessels and the coverings of nerves. Diabetes also weakens our white blood cells, leading to a “lazy leukocyte syndrome” which greatly reduces immune function overall. The high blood sugar also promotes growth of bacteria and the infections they cause.
- Effects on white blood cells and bacteria: There is increased probability and severity of getting foot infections. Wounds will heal slowly as well.
- Nerve damage:
- May affect your sensitivity to pain, pressure, posture, and temperature.
- Could cause you to step on a nail, sustain an injury, and not realize that you had done so.
- Could also cause you to feel pain in your feet when there is no physical damage.
- May destroy your joint-position sense, leading to abnormal foot positions and potential joint deformities, a condition known as (Charcot’s foot).
- Reduced blood flow: Less oxygen, nutrients, and cells will get to the foot, leading to poor wound healing and infections.
Conclusion
In this Part 1, I have introduced you to the problems of the diabetic foot. Watch out for Part 2 where we will look at how to take care of the diabetic foot.
Read this for simple lifestyle tips to prevent diabetes!
