Diabetic foot issues
Diabetic foot issues
Having diabetes means your feet are more likely to run into problems. This happens because a long stretch of high blood glucose can damage the nerves in your feet, a condition also called neuropathy.
Blood flow to your feet can be affected as well, and several things raise this risk:
- smoking
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- a history of heart disease or stroke
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
Emergency Warning Signs
Call 999 or go straight to A&E if your foot suddenly changes colour, turning very pale or blue, especially if it also feels newly numb or painful.
When should you contact a healthcare professional?
Call your podiatrist or GP urgently if you notice:
- a hot, red, swollen foot (on black or brown skin this may look like a change in skin colour rather than redness)
- new damage to the skin, such as a cut, sore or break in the skin
- your foot changing shape
- new pain in the foot, which matters even more if you already have nerve damage that normally stops you feeling pain
Call 111 if you have diabetes and a new foot problem along with any of the following:
- fever
- shivering or shaking
- nausea
- vomiting
- generally feeling unwell
Testing for sensitivity in your feet
If you have diabetes, or you look after someone who does, it is worth testing regularly for nerve damage in the feet. Diabetes UK has guidance on how to check foot sensitivity at home.
Other factors that can affect your foot risk include how well your kidneys are working, how much blood is reaching your feet and legs, and whether you have had foot problems before.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
- your foot is changing colour (going very pale or blue), especially with new numbness or pain in the foot
When should I contact a healthcare professional?
Phone your podiatrist or GP urgently if you have:
- a hot, red swollen foot, (this could show as discoloured on black or brown skin)
- new damage to the skin of your foot (cuts, sores or breaks in the skin)
- a change in your foot shape
- a new pain in your foot (especially if you have painless nerve damage)
If your podiatrist or GP practice is closed, call 111.
Phone 111 if you:
Have diabetes, have new foot issues and also:
- have a fever
- are shivering or shaking
- have nausea
- are vomiting (being sick)
- are feeling unwell
Testing for sensitivity in your feet
If you have diabetes, or are a carer for someone with diabetes, it can be helpful to do a test for nerve damage.
Diabetes UK have information on how to test for sensitivity in your feet
Other things that can influence your foot risk include:
- kidney function
- blood flow to the feet and legs
- previous foot issues
Causes
What causes diabetic foot issues?
Nerve damage is the most common problem seen in people with diabetes. It usually shows up in one of two ways.
Painful nerve damage
This type of nerve damage causes pain in the foot. People often describe it as burning, pins and needles, an ache, or a toothache-like pain in the foot.
It may feel worse at night while in bed, or when someone or something touches your feet, but it can happen at any time.
Painless nerve damage
Painless nerve damage usually means a loss of sensation. You may not notice any problem with your foot at all. Sometimes the only sign is that you can't feel your foot being touched during an examination.
If this type of nerve damage is found, it raises your risk of foot problems in the future. Your health care team will help you understand your personal level of risk, and you may need to stay in regular contact with a health care professional. They will explain what changes in your feet you should watch out for.
Treatment
Self-management of diabetic foot issues
In most cases you will be able to manage any known foot issues caused by diabetes at home, yourself.
Find out how you can do this by reading the ‘Looking after your feet’ leaflet found on the NHS Grampian website.
Tips for checking your feet
Do
- try to check your foot using a mirror every day
- look for any cuts, skin breaks or hard skin
- apply moisturising cream to prevent your skin becoming too dry
- try to keep your toenails short, keeping them cut and filed if you can
- speak to your podiatrist if you have any issues
Don’t
- do not allow the area between your toes to become too moist as this can lead to athletes foot
Your foot risk
Your foot risk is a way of measuring how likely you are to develop foot problems.
You can check your foot risk with your health care team or on MyDiabetesMyWay, if you’re a registered user.
MyDiabetesMyWay
If you attend a Diabetes service, you may already be registered with MyDiabetesMyWay. They also have information on:
- your foot risk score
- foot care
- footwear
- keeping feet healthy
- be over 14
- registered with a GP in Scotland and
- have your CHI number available
Contact your GP practice if you need to find out your CHI number.
Don’t include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions.