Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects your body’s healing ability. Any wound becomes impossible to heal because your body is unable to produce or use insulin. Diabetics should pay extra attention to their foot care because any form of nerve damage will cause trouble with the feet.

One big question for many diabetics is why diabetes attacks the feet. Let’s explore some of the reasons that might answer this tough question.

All You Need to Know About Diabetes

Diabetes is not a disease of the feet, making it strange that diabetics have to be careful with their feet. Medically, diabetes affects your blood glucose, causing a condition that makes it hard for the body to make enough insulin or even use the insulin present to control blood sugar levels. If the glucose in your blood doesn’t get broken down, it increases to extremely dangerous levels.

Why Diabetes Targets the Feet More Than Any Other Part of the Body

Diabetes seemingly targets the feet because nerve damage in the body tends to focus on the lower extremities, which are your legs and feet. Being a diabetic means that you either have high levels of blood sugar or lower levels of the same. If your body cannot break down glucose, you will have high levels of sugar in your blood, which is associated with neuropathy or nerve damage in the legs and feet. This is why diabetes affects the feet.

Complications Associated With Diabetic Feet

• Changes in the foot skin, including drying, cracks, and infections
• The formation of thickened skin or calluses that break down and become open ulcers on the feet
• Simple cuts that become diabetic ulcers
• Pain or numbness in your feet
• Loss of feeling or tingling sensation on the feet

Preventing Diabetic Complications

If you have been wondering why diabetics have to be careful with their feet, you have finally found your answers. In addition to medical supplies, you should also adhere to the following tips:

• Always keep your feet clean and dry
• Wash your feet with warm water regularly
• Avoid walking without shoes
• Don’t cut calluses on your own
• Carefully cut your nails to avoid injuries to your toes
• Wear socks to bed when your feet are cold instead of using a heating pad

Why You May Need Diabetic Shoes

Given that diabetes seemingly targets your feet, paying extra attention to foot care is the only way to stay safe from diabetes-related complications. At Northside Medical Supply, we offer diabetic shoes in Roswell. Comfortable, breathable, and stylish shoes are one way to ensure that you go about your daily activities without hurting your feet and risking a foot ulcer.