Foot Problems for Diabetics - Mineola and Williston Park Podiatry
According to the American Diabetes Association, about 15.7 million people (5.9 percent of
the United States population) have diabetes. Nervous system damage (also called neuropathy)
affects about 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes and is a major complication that may
cause diabetics to lose feeling in their feet or hands.
Foot problems are a big risk in diabetics. Diabetics must constantly monitor their feet or
face severe consequences, including amputation. With a diabetic foot, a wound as small as a
blister from wearing a shoe that's too tight can lead to a lot of damage. Diabetes decreases
blood flow, so injuries are slow to heal. When a wound is not healing, is at risk for
infection and infections spread quickly in diabetics.
When a diabetic foot becomes numb, it may be at risk for deformity. One way this happens is
through ulcers. Small, unattended cuts become open
