Poor circulation, decreased feeling or numbness, and a reduced healing ability are all complications of diabetes. If undiagnosed and ignored, these three conditions can have disastrous consequences. Insufficient blood supply to the foot, referred to as peripheral artery disease (PAD), deprives the tissues of necessary oxygen. Peripheral neuropathy, or numbing of the nerves in the feet, diminishes the protective sense and lessens the probability that a person with diabetes may experience pain as a result of an injury. Reduced healing capability can exacerbate a minor injury by allowing it to get infected and putting the limb at danger.
When there is increased pressure beneath the foot or over bony prominences such as bunions or hammertoes, thick skin, or calluses, will develop to protect the area. This would be painful in persons who do not have diabetes. Diabetics with numb feet will not feel discomfort and will continue to walk. The tissue beneath the pressure breaks down due to poor circulation and a reduced ability to heal, and so a diabetic foot ulcer develops. An open foot ulcer, which is a crack or hole in the skin, can deepen and become infected, exposing the bone to infection and jeopardizing the limb’s health and safety.
