Diabetes foot care Foot care for diabetics If you have diabetes
you are more likely to have foot problems. Diabetes can damage
your nerves (See: Diabetic neuropathy). This, in turn, may make
you less able to feel an injury or pressure on the skin of your
foot. You may not notice a foot injury until severe damage or
infection develops. Diabetes changes your body's ability to
fight infections. Damage to blood vessels because of diabetes
results in less blood and oxygen getting to your feet. Because
of this, small sores or breaks in the skin may become deeper
skin ulcers. The affected limb may need to be amputated if these
skin ulcers do not improve, get larger, or go deeper into the
skin. If you have diabetes, you should: - Improve control of
your blood sugar - Stop smoking - Get a foot exam by your health
care provider at least once a year and learn whether you have
nerve damage. - Check and care for your feet every day,
especially if you already have known nerve or blood vessel
damage or current foot problems