Diabetic foot problems

People with diabetes can experience a number of potentially serious problems affecting their feet, some of which can be very painful. This is because the condition can damage nerves and blood vessels in your feet.

Foot problems that can affect people with diabetes include:

• nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy), which can cause numbness and burning, stabbing or shooting pains in your feet
• poor circulation (ischaemia), which can cause your feet to become painful, cold, red and swollen
• skin ulcers – painful sores that take a very long time to heal
• skin infections – ulcers that become red and swollen, and may produce a foul-smelling odour and green discharge

Contact your GP or diabetes care team immediately if you have diabetes and think you have developed a problem with one or both of your feet.

Read more about feet and diabetes.