According to a compilation of data gathered from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute of Health and a handful of other services and systems, diabetes affects over 20 million people in the United States alone – or roughly 7% of the US’s population. While diabetes in and of itself can damage a person’s eyes, kidneys, cause nerve damage and lower one’s ability to fight off infection, diabetic foot is also a plausible outcome of suffering from diabetes.

Simply put, diabetic foot comes about and is a possible side effect of diabetes; it’s just a natural byproduct of this disease. However, there are certain situations and activities that can increase the risk of developing diabetic foot: While the problems created by poor fitting shoes aren’t limited to a diabetic foot, diabetics are especially susceptible to problems from shoes that don’t fit or support the foot properly. If you have diabetes and your shoes cause you pain – it is time to look for a new pair immediately. Nerve damage can cause a great deal of complications for those with diabetes. For instance, if the nerves in your feet are damaged you may not notice that your shoes are causing issues (rubbing, improper support that causes strain) and you may not have the sensations that non-diabetics have when experiencing trauma to the foot, which can hinder you from realizing that you’ve injured yourself. Infections of the feet of any variety in a diabetic, whether it is athletes foot, an ingrown toenail or fungal nail infection should be treated immediately to avoid developing a worsening infection. While poor circulation is generally caused by other underlying health issues, it can cause delays in healing for those with diabetic foot and should be addressed as soon as possible. Taking care of your feet if you have diabetes can help you to minimize the effects of diabetic foot. A couple of things that you can do to care for your feet are: Because of the potential for severe problems arising from diabetic foot, it’s advised that you sit down and take a look at your feet on a daily basis. If you see something out-of-the-norm, you should report this to your health care provider or podiatrist.