Diabetes And Foot Complications: What You Need To Know
People with diabetes have been told, probably more times than they can count, “Take care of your feet!” It’s good advice—people with diabetes are at risk for a variety of unpleasant foot complications. But it would be more helpful to know what the possible complications are and how to avoid them.
Here we’ll present a list of 8 diabetes foot complications to watch out for. Knowing what to look for can help you take the best possible care of your feet, and when your foundation is healthy, your whole body will feel better!
8. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Peripheral Artery Disease (sometimes called peripheral vascular disease, or PVD) affects the blood vessels that supply your feet and legs and is the underlying cause for several other foot and leg complications. It occurs when fatty deposits in the blood restrict flow to your feet, and is exacerbated by high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and high blood sugar.
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7. Peripheral Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage that occurs as a result of high blood sugar, and it’s a serious concern for all people with diabetes. About 60% to 70% of people with diabetes will develop a form of neuropathy in their lifetime. Peripheral neuropathy affects the outlying areas of the body; most commonly the feet and legs. It can cause numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness, and it is an underlying cause of many other foot complications.
