How does Diabetes affect the Feet? November is diabetes awareness month in Canada. At Body and Sole Foot Care Clinic our new patients often tell us that they know they have to look after their feet when the have diabetes, but they don’t know why. Having diabetes doubles the risk for foot disease. In fact, about 30 percent of people with diabetes who are older than 40 develop medical problems with their feet. The good news is that with good blood sugar control and good foot care and footwear, many foot problems can be treated early or avoided all together. So just how does diabetes affect the feet? Chronically elevated glucose levels can damage the nervous system, the wiring that transmits signals from the brain throughout the body. The nervous system works the other way, too: It detects information about the environment and how it affects the body through the five senses. Damaged nerves, or neuropathy, can lead to an array of physical problems and disabilities anywhere in the body, but nerve and circulation symptoms often show in the feet (and lower legs) first. Annoying and painful symptoms can occur when the brain can't successfully send messages to the feet. Common complaints are; numbness, tingling, pain and other strange sensations. But the even greater threat posed by diabetic neuropathy happens when the feet can't send information to the brain because they've become numb from overexposure to blood sugar. With neuropathy, cuts, bumps, and other injuries that once would have made you wince or howl in pain will go unnoticed when your feet lose their feeling. An injury neglected because you are unable to feel it can quickly become infected and develop into a sore or ulcer. Diabetes can also cause poor blood circulation. Like the heart's arteries, blood vessels anywhere else in the body can become stiff and narrowed. In fact, 1 in 3 people with diabetes who are older than 50 has clogged arteries in the legs, a condition known as peripheral artery disease, also called peripheral vascular disease. Narrowed arteries diminish blood flow to the lower legs and feet, which can cause pain if you're walking long distances. Poor blood supply also makes the skin dry and fragile and the nails thicker. The loss of blood flow to the feet can prevent wounds and sores from getting the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal. So while occasional bumps, blisters, or cuts are trivial medical concerns for most people, for diabetes patients these minor injuries can turn serious in a hurry. Left ignored and untreated, minor sores on the skin of the foot can turn into severe problems with potentially devastating consequences - namely, ulcers, gangrene and amputation. The Canadian Diabetes Association recommends everyone with diabetes has a foot assessment yearly. Your family doctor, endocrinologist or foot specialist may do this. If you have not had the circulation and sensation in your feet checked in the last year, make sure you ask for this at your doctor’s office, or call us at Body and Sole to make an appointment for Diabetes Foot Screening. Our services are covered by most extended health plans. Your first visit will include a full assessment and any treatment needed. We will also advise you on foot care and footwear. Call for an appointment, 613 258 5508.