What diabetes does to your feet?

How does diabetes cause foot problems? Foot problems are common in people with diabetes. They can happen over time when high blood sugar
high blood sugar
Babies with hyperglycemia often have no symptoms. Sometimes, babies with high blood sugar will produce large amounts of urine and become dehydrated. High blood sugar may be a sign that the baby has added stress on the body due to problems such as an infection or heart failure.
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damages the nerves and blood vessels in the feet. The nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy, can cause numbness, tingling, pain, or a loss of feeling in your feet.
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How does having diabetes affect your feet?

Raised blood glucose levels, also known as blood sugar, can damage the sensation in your feet. This can also affect your circulation, which can lead to you getting less blood supply to your feet. Without a good blood supply you may have problems with cuts and sores healing.
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What are signs of diabetes in your feet?

Signs of Diabetic Foot Problems
  • Changes in skin color.
  • Changes in skin temperature.
  • Swelling in the foot or ankle.
  • Pain in the legs.
  • Open sores on the feet that are slow to heal or are draining.
  • Ingrown toenails or toenails infected with fungus.
  • Corns or calluses.
  • Dry cracks in the skin, especially around the heel.
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What are 3 things you should never do to the feet of someone with diabetes?

Avoid soaking your feet, as this can lead to dry skin. Dry your feet gently, especially between the toes. Moisturize your feet and ankles with lotion or petroleum jelly. Do not put oils or creams between your toes — the extra moisture can lead to infection.
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What does diabetic legs look like?

Also known as “shin spots,” the hallmark of diabetic dermopathy is light brown, scaly patches of skin, often occurring on the shins. These patches may be oval or circular. They're caused by damage to the small blood vessels that supply the tissues with nutrition and oxygen.
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Foot Health and Diabetes



What are 10 warning signs of diabetes?

Early signs and symptoms of diabetes
  • Frequent urination. When your blood sugar is high, your kidneys expel the excess blood sugar, causing you to urinate more frequently. ...
  • Increased thirst. ...
  • Fatigue. ...
  • Blurred vision. ...
  • Increased hunger. ...
  • Unexplained weight loss. ...
  • Slow healing cuts and wounds. ...
  • Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.
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What are the 3 most common symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes?

The three most common symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes include increased thirst, increased urination, and increased hunger. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that happens when blood sugar (glucose) is too high (hyperglycemia).
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Can diabetic foot be cured?

Background. Diabetic foot infections are a frequent clinical problem. About 50% of patients with diabetic foot infections who have foot amputations die within five years. Properly managed most can be cured, but many patients needlessly undergo amputations because of improper diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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What are early warning signs of diabetes?

Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, causes many of the warning signs of diabetes listed above, including:
  • Heavy thirst.
  • Blurry vision.
  • Peeing a lot.
  • More hunger.
  • Numb or tingling feet.
  • Fatigue.
  • Sugar in your urine.
  • Weight loss.
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How do you treat diabetic feet?

Wearing socks and shoes (or slippers) all day. Make sure your socks aren't too tight and that your shoes fit properly. Some people with diabetes wear therapeutic shoes or shoe inserts to help prevent wounds or sores. Washing your feet every day in warm water, not hot.
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How do you control diabetic feet?

The gold standard for diabetic foot ulcer treatment includes debridement of the wound, management of any infection, revascularization procedures when indicated, and off-loading of the ulcer [28].
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Why can't diabetics soak their feet?

Do not soak feet, or you'll risk infection if the skin begins to break down. And if you have nerve damage, take care with water temperature. You risk burning your skin if you can't feel that the water is too hot.
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How do you feel when your blood sugar is too high?

Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) means there is too much sugar in the blood because the body lacks enough insulin. Associated with diabetes, hyperglycemia can cause vomiting, excessive hunger and thirst, rapid heartbeat, vision problems and other symptoms.
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What does untreated diabetes feel like?

Uncontrolled diabetes means your blood sugar levels are too high, even if you're treating it. And you may have symptoms such as peeing more often, being thirsty a lot, and having other problems related to your diabetes.
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How do you feel when you have diabetes?

You're feeling fatigued or exhausted

Several underlying causes of fatigue may relate to diabetes/high sugar levels, including dehydration (from frequent urination, which can disrupt sleep) and kidney damage. This feeling of exhaustion is often persistent and can interfere with your daily activities, Dr.
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Why can't diabetics cut toenails?

Diabetes are more prone to infection, and fungi and bacteria can transfer from clipping or foot care tools to any open wounds.
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What kind of food should diabetics avoid?

  • Sugar-sweetened beverages. Sugary beverages are the worst drink choice for someone with diabetes. ...
  • Trans fats. Artificial trans fats are extremely unhealthy. ...
  • White bread, rice, and pasta. ...
  • Fruit-flavored yogurt. ...
  • Sweetened breakfast cereals. ...
  • Flavored coffee drinks. ...
  • Honey, agave nectar, and maple syrup. ...
  • Dried fruit.
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How long can you have diabetes without knowing?

Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over weeks or even days. Many people have type 2 diabetes for years without realising because the early symptoms tend to be general.
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How many times does a diabetes urinate at night?

Most people urinate four to seven times in a day. If you are making more trips to the bathroom, especially waking multiple times at night to go, it may be a sign that your kidneys are working overtime to flush out excess sugar in your blood.
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What are the signs of diabetes in a woman?

Both men and women may experience the following symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes:
  • increased thirst and hunger.
  • frequent urination.
  • weight loss or gain with no obvious cause.
  • fatigue.
  • blurred vision.
  • wounds that heal slowly.
  • nausea.
  • skin infections.
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What are the 5 signs of diabetes?

If you have any of the following diabetes symptoms, see your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested:
  • Urinate (pee) a lot, often at night.
  • Are very thirsty.
  • Lose weight without trying.
  • Are very hungry.
  • Have blurry vision.
  • Have numb or tingling hands or feet.
  • Feel very tired.
  • Have very dry skin.
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What is silent diabetes?

“Diabetes starts as a silent disease, advancing painlessly, almost imperceptibly,” says Dr. Ferrer, who sees 25 to 30 diabetic patients per week. “It mainly attacks the small blood vessels, damaging the kidneys, eyes, and nerves.” It can also affect larger blood vessels.
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What does sugar in urine look like?

The sugar is then excreted in your urine. The excess sugar can make it appear cloudy or even smell sweet or fruity. For some people, this is the first sign of diabetes. If you suddenly notice cloudy urine that smells sweet, see a doctor right away.
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What are the 9 signs and symptoms of high blood sugar?

Early signs and symptoms
  • Frequent urination. ...
  • Increased thirst. ...
  • Always feeling hungry. ...
  • Feeling very tired. ...
  • Blurry vision. ...
  • Slow healing of cuts and wounds. ...
  • Tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands or feet. ...
  • Patches of dark skin.
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