- Collapsing arches (flat feet)
- Charcot foot (rare but serious — bones weaken and shift)
🩻 Caused by weakened muscles and joints from nerve damage.
8. Slow-Healing Sores or Ulcers
- Cuts, blisters, or calluses take weeks to heal
- May get infected easily
🩸 Poor circulation + weakened immunity = delayed recovery.
9. Cold Feet (Even in Warm Weather)
- Reduced blood flow makes feet feel icy
- Can happen even with warm socks
🌡️ A sign of peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is more common in people with diabetes.
10. Discoloration
- Red, blue, or purple tint to toes or feet
- Indicates poor oxygen delivery
🫀 Could signal circulation problems or inflammation.
11. Thickened or Discolored Toenails
- Yellowing, brittleness, or fungal infections
- Often mistaken for simple nail fungus — but may reflect underlying glucose imbalance
🔍 Fungal growth thrives in high-sugar environments.
12. Hair Loss on Feet or Legs
- Thinning or missing hair on lower legs/toes
- Due to reduced circulation
📉 Like plants without water — tissues struggle to thrive.
✅ Who Should Be Screened?
You’re at higher risk if you:
- Are overweight or obese
- Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
- Had gestational diabetes
- Are physically inactive
- Have high blood pressure or cholesterol
🩺 Talk to your doctor about getting tested for prediabetes or diabetes — simple blood tests can detect it early.
|
Test
|
What It Measures
|
|---|---|
|
✅ HbA1c
|
Average blood sugar over 2–3 months
|
|
✅ Fasting Blood Glucose
|
Blood sugar after 8+ hours without food
|
|
✅ Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
|
How your body handles sugar
|
🎯 Goal: Catch prediabetes before it becomes full-blown diabetes.
✅ Daily Foot Care Tips (For Everyone — Especially at Risk)
|
Habit
|
Benefit
|
|---|---|
|
✅ Inspect feet daily
|
Use a mirror to check bottoms — look for cuts, redness, swelling
|
|
✅ Wash & dry thoroughly
|
Especially between toes
|
|
✅ Moisturize (but not between toes)
|
Prevents cracking
|
|
✅ Wear well-fitting shoes
|
Avoid blisters and pressure points
|
|
✅ Never walk barefoot
|
Protect against injuries
|
|
✅ See a podiatrist annually
|
Even if no symptoms
|
🩺 For people with diabetes: This is non-negotiable.