Why Patients With Diabetes Need to Take Extra Care of Their Feet
Aug 20, 2025
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Taking care of your feet is more than just a good bath or a pretty pedicure. Taking care of your feet is part of your physical wellness, and it’s even more important if you have diabetes.
High blood sugar levels can quietly damage the nerves and blood vessels in your feet and increase your risk of serious complications like infections, ulcers, and even amputation.
Proper diabetic foot care helps prevent infections, avoid complications, and protect your long-term mobility. At NYC Foot & Ankle Center in the Manhattan Valley neighborhood of the Upper West Side, our team of providers helps you stay a step ahead of diabetic foot issues.
In the meantime, read on to learn why people with diabetes need to take extra care of their feet.
Diabetes can lead to several issues, including:
Diabetes causes high blood sugar levels, and chronically high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels and nerves throughout your body.
This can lead to peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that causes numbness, tingling, or a complete lack of sensation in your feet. When you can’t feel pain, you might not notice a small cut or blister until it turns into something more serious.
In addition to nerve damage, diabetes also affects your circulation. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is seven times more common in people with diabetes than in those without diabetes.
Poor blood flow slows healing and makes it harder for your body to fight off infection — two reasons even minor foot injuries can quickly escalate.
When you have poor circulation, even the smallest cuts can struggle to heal. These slow-healing wounds (ulcers) are hard to treat on your own. They can increase your risk of serious complications like gangrene and even amputation.
Ulcers shouldn’t be taken lightly. There’s a diabetes-related amputation every 3 minutes and 30 seconds in the United States.
People with diabetes are more prone to foot infections, including bacterial, fungal, and yeast infections.
Taking care of your feet doesn’t require fancy equipment or elaborate foot care routines. The truth is that taking care of your feet can be quite straightforward. Here are some tips to up your hygiene game:
To protect your feet when you have diabetes, it’s important to take daily precautions. Start by avoiding walking barefoot — even at home — to reduce the risk of cuts, scrapes, or injuries you may not feel right away.
When you wash your feet, use warm (not hot) water and a gentle soap. If you have sensitive skin, skip the fragranced soap. Dry your feet thoroughly, especially between your toes.
Apply a thin layer of lotion to the top and bottom of your feet to keep your skin soft, but avoid the area between your toes. Too much moisture there can lead to irritation or infection.
If you find your feet are sweaty throughout the day, change your socks. Doing this can keep your feet dry and fungal infections at bay. Stash an extra pair in your gym bag — or even your briefcase!
Wear diabetic-friendly shoes that offer ample support and room to prevent pressure points and blisters. Wear seamless socks to help avoid blisters from seams.
Keep your blood sugar levels under control as part of your overall care plan, since high glucose can impair healing and increase your risk of serious foot complications.
Call NYC Foot & Ankle Center if you notice any of these signs on your feet:
These signs could be the first indicators of infection or reduced blood flow and shouldn’t be ignored.
If you notice any signs of infection, slow-healing wounds, or changes in how your feet feel, contact NYC Foot & Ankle Center right away. Our goal is to help you maintain healthy feet and avoid complications before they start.
Your feet carry you through life; don’t let diabetes take that away. Book your diabetic foot exam with NYC Foot & Ankle Center today.