Diabetes Foot Disease Usually Cause By One of Two Problems

by DrGary under Diabetes Top Stories

If you have diabetes, foot disease is something you need to be on the lookout for. Having too much glucose over a long period causes usually normal foot problems to turn serious for many diabetics. The resulting complications are commonly referred to as diabetes foot disease. There is no one problem named “diabetes foot disease”, but rather a couple of problems that turn other foot conditions into serious medical conditions. Diabetic neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease are those two problems. Let’s take a brief look at each one.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Nerve damage caused by uncontrolled diabetes is responsible for much of what is called diabetes foot disease. When the nerves in the foot become damaged, you lose the ability to feel temperature extremes and pain. This lack of sensation is called sensory diabetic neuropathy. If you get a cut, sore or blister on your foot, you don’t realize it because of the lack of feeling. And because wounds heal slower in diabetics, these small wounds get worse and become infected. These infections can get very serious, even resulting in amputation.

Sometimes the feet don’t align properly, and more weight is put on one foot. This can cause a foot ulcer. About 10% of diabetics develop foot ulcers. Foot ulcers can also be caused by peripheral vascular disease.

Peripheral Vascular Disease

This condition often results in a diabetes foot disease as well. It is from the reduced flow of blood that uncontrolled or poorly controlled diabetes causes. Without a good flow of blood, wounds of all types take longer to heal. Peripheral vascular disease is specifically a circulation disorder affecting the vessels taking blood away from the heart. When a wound in the foot takes too long to heal, risk of diabetes foot disease is significantly higher. Gangrene is a very real possibility with peripheral vascular disease. Gangrene is the death of tissue due to a lack of blood flow.

What Kind of Foot Problems Can Lead To Diabetes Foot Disease?

Because of the two conditions described above, diabetics often have foot problems. The best way to avoid them is to control your diabetes and to inspect and massage your feet every day. Look for wounds or other problems before they become infected. Along with cuts and blisters, look for any of these foot problems and get medical attention before you end up with a serious infection, or diabetes foot disease.