Too much sugar, in your blood due to uncontrolled diabetes, can cause nerve damage and poor blood flow, leading to serious foot problems. Even ordinary foot problems can get worse and lead to serious complications in diabetes.
Foot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage also called neuropathy. This can cause tingling, burning or stinging or even weakness in the foot. It can also cause loss of sensation in the foot.
Nerve damage - Prolonged exposure to high blood sugar can damage delicate nerve fibres, causing diabetic neuropathy. High blood glucose interferes with the ability of the nerves to transmit signals. It also weakens the walls of the small blood vessels that supply the nerves with oxygen and nutrients. Nerve damage can cause loss of sensation. You may not feel pain, heat, or cold in your feet. Nerve damage can also lead to changes in the shape of your feet and toes.
Diabetes causes blood vessels of the foot and leg to narrow and harden. This leads to poor circulation. Poor circulation can make your foot less able to fight infection and to heal. Sometimes, a bad infection never heals. The infection might cause gangrene. If you have gangrene, the skin and tissue around the sore die. The area becomes black and smelly.
You can control some of the things that cause poor blood flow. Follow your health care provider's advice for keeping your blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol under control.
Some people feel pain in their calves when walking fast or up a hill. This condition is called intermittent claudication. Resting for a few moments should end the pain.
People with diabetes must be fully aware of how to prevent foot problems, to recognize them and to seek the right treatment. Although treatment for diabetic foot problems has improved, prevention - including good control of blood sugar level - remains the best way to prevent diabetic complications.
Keep feet healthy by taking these steps:
Quit smoking
Let a doctor examine your foot yearly, or more often if you have foot problems. Have your doctor check the sensation and blood flow in your feet
Keep your blood glucose in control
Avoid hot pads and hot water bottles
Check your feet every day for cuts, sores, blisters, redness, calluses and infected toenails. You may have serious foot problems, even though you feel no pain.
Contributed by:
Dr. Ambrish Mithal MD, DM
Chairman, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes
Medanta, the Medicity
Sector 38, Gurgaon 122001, Haryana
India
Disclaimer: The information contained here is not to be used for treatment purpose or for diagnosis of health problems or as a substitute to expert medical advice. Please consult your doctor for any health related problems or queries that you may have. Although great care has been taken in computing and checking the information, Novartis is not responsible or liable in anyway for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in or otherwise howsoever for any consequences arising there from the views, opinions, ideas etc expressed therein are solely those of the author. Novartis does not certify the accuracy, completeness, currency of any information and shall not be responsible or in anyway liable for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in such information. Novartis is not liable to you in any manner whatsoever for any decision made or action or non-action taken by you in reliance upon the information provided. Novartis does not recommend the use of its products in unapproved indications and recommends to refer to complete prescribing information prior to using any of the Novartis products. Novartis Healthcare Private Limited, Sandoz House, Shivsagar Estate, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 018, INDIA. Issued in public interest by Novartis Healthcare Pvt Ltd
Article6/Novartis/CVM/326628/11/14
Foot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage also called neuropathy. This can cause tingling, burning or stinging or even weakness in the foot. It can also cause loss of sensation in the foot.
Nerve damage - Prolonged exposure to high blood sugar can damage delicate nerve fibres, causing diabetic neuropathy. High blood glucose interferes with the ability of the nerves to transmit signals. It also weakens the walls of the small blood vessels that supply the nerves with oxygen and nutrients. Nerve damage can cause loss of sensation. You may not feel pain, heat, or cold in your feet. Nerve damage can also lead to changes in the shape of your feet and toes.
Diabetes causes blood vessels of the foot and leg to narrow and harden. This leads to poor circulation. Poor circulation can make your foot less able to fight infection and to heal. Sometimes, a bad infection never heals. The infection might cause gangrene. If you have gangrene, the skin and tissue around the sore die. The area becomes black and smelly.
You can control some of the things that cause poor blood flow. Follow your health care provider's advice for keeping your blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol under control.
Some people feel pain in their calves when walking fast or up a hill. This condition is called intermittent claudication. Resting for a few moments should end the pain.
People with diabetes must be fully aware of how to prevent foot problems, to recognize them and to seek the right treatment. Although treatment for diabetic foot problems has improved, prevention - including good control of blood sugar level - remains the best way to prevent diabetic complications.
Keep feet healthy by taking these steps:
Quit smoking
Let a doctor examine your foot yearly, or more often if you have foot problems. Have your doctor check the sensation and blood flow in your feet
Keep your blood glucose in control
Avoid hot pads and hot water bottles
Check your feet every day for cuts, sores, blisters, redness, calluses and infected toenails. You may have serious foot problems, even though you feel no pain.
Contributed by:
Dr. Ambrish Mithal MD, DM
Chairman, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes
Medanta, the Medicity
Sector 38, Gurgaon 122001, Haryana
India
Disclaimer: The information contained here is not to be used for treatment purpose or for diagnosis of health problems or as a substitute to expert medical advice. Please consult your doctor for any health related problems or queries that you may have. Although great care has been taken in computing and checking the information, Novartis is not responsible or liable in anyway for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in or otherwise howsoever for any consequences arising there from the views, opinions, ideas etc expressed therein are solely those of the author. Novartis does not certify the accuracy, completeness, currency of any information and shall not be responsible or in anyway liable for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in such information. Novartis is not liable to you in any manner whatsoever for any decision made or action or non-action taken by you in reliance upon the information provided. Novartis does not recommend the use of its products in unapproved indications and recommends to refer to complete prescribing information prior to using any of the Novartis products. Novartis Healthcare Private Limited, Sandoz House, Shivsagar Estate, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 018, INDIA. Issued in public interest by Novartis Healthcare Pvt Ltd
Article6/Novartis/CVM/326628/11/14
