Condition5 min read
Diabetic foot problems
Diabetes can reduce feeling and blood flow in the feet, so cuts may go unnoticed and heal slowly. Daily foot care and regular foot exams help prevent serious complications.
Foot problems arise from nerve damage and reduced blood flow. They include ulcers, infection, gangrene, Charcot foot and amputation in severe cases. The NIDDK recommends a comprehensive foot examination at least once a year.
An ulcer is managed by removing dead tissue and offloading pressure (special shoes and splints), wound care and glucose control, as MedlinePlus states. Signs of infection: redness, warmth, swelling, discharge, fever and a change in the colour of the ulcer.
In one minute12
- What is it?
- Complications in the feet resulting from nerve damage and poor blood flow in people with diabetes.
- Who is usually affected?
- People with diabetes, and risk rises with loss of sensation and a previous ulcer or amputation.
- Acute or chronic?
- They can worsen quickly if wounds go unnoticed.
- Main symptoms
- A wound or blister that does not heal, redness, warmth, swelling, discharge, colour change.
- Red flags?
- Yes: signs of foot infection call for seeing the doctor immediately.
- Preventable?
- Check the feet daily, wear suitable shoes, do not walk barefoot, and have a yearly medical examination.
What is it?
Diabetes causes nerve damage (loss of sensation) and reduced blood flow to the feet, so wounds and infections are hard to heal.
Causes
Loss of sensation prevents noticing wounds and sores so they become inflamed, and poor circulation delays healing.
Risk factors
A change in foot shape, loss of sensation, an ulcer or a previous amputation raise the risk according to NIDDK; MedlinePlus adds smoking and poorly controlled glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol.
Symptoms
Signs of infection: redness and increased warmth and swelling around the wound, heavy discharge or pus or odour, fever or chills, increased pain or stiffness around the wound, and the ulcer changing colour to white, blue or black.
Complications include: ulcers and infection, gangrene when a severe infection does not heal, Charcot foot (a bone deformity that gives the foot an unusual shape), and severe infection may require amputation of toes, a foot or part of the leg.
How is it diagnosed?
The NIDDK recommends a comprehensive foot examination at least once a year, and more if the foot shape changes, sensation is lost, or there has been a previous ulcer or amputation, and asking for a foot examination at every medical visit.
Treatment
The treatment categories usually used are listed here; this is not a prescription. The doctor chooses the plan according to each person's condition; do not change any medicine or dose without a specialist.
According to MedlinePlus: removal of skin and dead tissue by a specialist, offloading pressure on the area (special shoes, splints or crutches), daily wound care and dressing changes, and controlling blood sugar. Infection is treated according to the doctor's assessment.
Prevention
Daily care steps according to the NIDDK: check the feet daily, wash them with warm water and soap and dry between the toes, gently smooth hard skin with a pumice stone after bathing, cut toenails straight across, always wear shoes and socks and do not walk barefoot, protect the feet from extreme heat and cold, improve circulation by moving and raising the feet, and ask for a foot examination at every medical visit.
MedlinePlus adds: shoes that allow ventilation and fit well, avoid pointed or open shoes, control glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol, and avoid smoking.
When do you need urgent help?
Get urgent care today
See your doctor within days
- No comprehensive medical foot examination has been done in the last year.1
Educational content only — no diagnosis, and no substitute for a clinician.
Common questions
How often do I need a medical foot examination?
The NIDDK recommends a comprehensive examination at least once a year, and more if the foot shape changes, sensation is lost, or there has been a previous ulcer or amputation.1
Questions for your doctor
- Do I have loss of sensation or poor circulation in my feet?
- Which shoes suit me?
- How do I check my feet daily?
- When should I be seen immediately for a foot wound?
- Do I need follow-up with a foot or vascular specialist?
References
- 1NIDDK / NIH. Diabetes & Foot Problems. www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/foot-problemsHealth agencies & guidelines · Accessed 2026-10-03
- 2MedlinePlus / NLM. Diabetes — foot ulcers. medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000077.htmHealth agencies & guidelines · Accessed 2026-10-06
Review status: Edited content · Last updated:
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Educational content only — no diagnosis, and no substitute for a clinician.