Why it’s so important
Your feet experience a lot of stress every day as you put on shoes and walk. With diabetes, your feet are particularly at risk of developing wounds because:
Nerve damage leads to neuropathy and the loss of feeling, so wounds on your feet can easily go unnoticed. If not treated immediately, a small wound can progress to a serious wound.
Decreased circulation makes your skin and tissue weaker, meaning wounds form more easily and can be slow to heal.
Joint and bone abnormalities can deform the foot and make certain areas more likely to form wounds. Pressure on your feet from ill-fitting shoes can contribute to these deformities.
High sugar levels make you very vulnerable to simple wounds becoming infected.
