How Does Type 2 Diabetes Affect Your Feet?
- brandonpodiatry
- Jul 31
- 5 min read
Type 2 diabetes can affect your feet by damaging the nerves and blood vessels that keep them healthy. Over time, persistently high blood glucose levels can reduce sensation (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), impair circulation (peripheral arterial disease) and slow the body's ability to heal wounds.
These changes increase the risk of foot ulcers, infection and, in severe cases, lower limb amputation. The good news is that most serious diabetic foot complications are preventable through good diabetes management, daily foot care and early treatment. (NICE, 2019; Bus et al., 2023; American Diabetes Association, 2025)
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a long-term condition in which the body becomes resistant to insulin and gradually loses its ability to produce enough insulin to regulate blood glucose levels effectively. As blood glucose remains elevated over time, it can damage blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, including those in the feet. (American Diabetes Association, 2025; Davies et al., 2022)
Around 90–95% of people living with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, making it the most common form of the condition worldwide. (International Diabetes Federation, 2025)
Although diabetes affects the whole body, the feet are particularly vulnerable because they experience constant pressure, friction and minor injuries that can easily go unnoticed.
Why Does Diabetes Affect Your Feet?
There are three main reasons why diabetes can lead to foot problems:
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
High blood glucose can damage the nerves in your feet, reducing your ability to feel pain, temperature and pressure. This is known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
You may experience:
Numbness
Tingling
Burning sensations
Pins and needles
Reduced ability to feel pain or injury
Because sensation is reduced, blisters, cuts and pressure sores may go unnoticed. Without treatment, these injuries can develop into ulcers. (Pop-Busui et al., 2017; Feldman et al., 2019)
Poor Circulation
Diabetes increases the risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the legs and feet.
Reduced circulation means:
Less oxygen reaches the tissues.
Wounds heal more slowly.
Infection is harder to fight.
The risk of ulceration increases.
Signs of poor circulation include:
Cold feet
Pale or blue skin
Slow-healing wounds
Pain when walking
Weak or absent pulses
(NICE, 2019; Bus et al., 2023)
Slower Healing
Raised blood glucose also affects your immune system, making it harder for the body to repair damaged tissue and fight infection.
Even a small blister or cut can quickly become infected if left untreated. This is why early assessment of any foot injury is so important. (Armstrong, Boulton and Bus, 2017; American Diabetes Association, 2025)
Common Foot Problems in People with Type 2 Diabetes
People with diabetes are more likely to develop:
Dry skin
Cracked heels
Corns and calluses
Ingrown toenails
Fungal nail infections
Athlete's foot
Foot ulcers
Charcot foot (a rare but serious condition affecting the bones and joints)
Having diabetes does not mean you will definitely develop these conditions, but recognising and treating problems early significantly reduces the risk of complications. (NICE, 2019; Bus et al., 2023)
Looking After Your Feet
Looking after your feet every day is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of diabetic foot problems.
Check your feet every day
Inspect the tops, soles and between your toes for:
Cuts
Blisters
Redness
Swelling
Cracks
Changes in colour
If you struggle to see the bottom of your feet, use a mirror or ask a family member for help or use a mirror.
Wash and dry your feet carefully
Wash your feet daily using warm water and mild soap.
Always dry thoroughly, particularly between your toes, where moisture can encourage fungal infections.
Moisturise dry skin
Apply moisturiser to dry areas every day to help prevent cracked skin.
Avoid putting cream between your toes, as excessive moisture can increase the risk of fungal infection.
Wear well-fitting footwear
Shoes should:
Fit comfortably
Have plenty of room for your toes
Protect your feet from injury
Be checked inside before putting them on
Never walk barefoot, even at home, as reduced sensation means injuries may go unnoticed.
Manage your diabetes
Keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol within your target range helps reduce the risk of nerve damage and circulation problems.
Attending your annual diabetic foot assessment is equally important, as it allows healthcare professionals to identify changes before serious complications develop. (NICE, 2019; American Diabetes Association, 2025)
Warning Signs You Should Never Ignore
Seek medical advice immediately if you notice:
A cut that is not healing
A blister that becomes larger
Redness or swelling
Pus or discharge
Black or blue skin
Sudden pain
A change in the shape of your foot
A foot that feels unusually warm
Any new ulcer
NICE recommends that anyone with diabetes who develops a new foot ulcer, suspected infection, or signs of Charcot foot should be referred to a specialist multidisciplinary foot service without delay. (NICE, 2019)
How Brandon Podiatry Can Help
At Brandon Podiatry, we provide comprehensive diabetic foot assessments to identify problems early and help reduce your risk of complications.
Your appointment may include:
Vascular assessment
Neurological testing
Diabetic foot risk assessment
Skin and nail assessment
Footwear advice
Personalised foot care recommendations
If we identify any concerns, we'll explain your level of risk and advise on the most appropriate treatment or referral.
💡 Brandon Podiatry Tip
Many serious diabetic foot complications begin with something as small as a blister or cracked heel. Checking your feet for just a few minutes every day could prevent a problem that might otherwise become serious.
What Does the Evidence Say?
Strong evidence from NICE, the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) and the American Diabetes Association shows that maintaining good blood glucose control, performing daily foot checks, wearing appropriate footwear and attending regular foot assessments significantly reduces the risk of diabetic foot ulcers and lower limb amputation.
Early identification and treatment remain the most effective ways to prevent serious complications. (NICE, 2019; Bus et al., 2023; American Diabetes Association, 2025)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Type 2 diabetes cause numb feet?
Yes. High blood glucose can damage the nerves in your feet, causing numbness, tingling or burning sensations. (Pop-Busui et al., 2017)
Why are people with diabetes more likely to develop foot ulcers?
Reduced sensation means injuries may not be noticed, while poor circulation and slower healing increase the likelihood that small wounds develop into ulcers. (Armstrong, Boulton and Bus, 2017)
Should I moisturise my feet?
Yes. Moisturising helps prevent dry skin and cracking, but avoid applying cream between your toes to reduce the risk of fungal infection. (NICE, 2019)
How often should my feet be checked?
Everyone with diabetes should have their feet examined at least once a year. If you are found to be at increased risk of foot problems, you may need more frequent reviews. (NICE, 2019)
References
American Diabetes Association (2025) Standards of Care in Diabetes—2025. Diabetes Care, 48(Suppl. 1).
Armstrong, D.G., Boulton, A.J.M. and Bus, S.A. (2017) 'Diabetic foot ulcers and their recurrence', New England Journal of Medicine, 376(24), pp. 2367–2375.
Bus, S.A., Schaper, N.C., van Netten, J.J., Armstrong, D.G., Bakker, K., et al. (2023) Guidelines on the Prevention and Management of Diabetes-related Foot Disease. International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot.
Davies, M.J., Aroda, V.R., Collins, B.S., et al. (2022) 'Management of hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes: A consensus report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)', Diabetologia, 65, pp. 1925–1966.
Feldman, E.L., Callaghan, B.C., Pop-Busui, R., et al. (2019) 'Diabetic neuropathy', Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 5, Article 41.
International Diabetes Federation (2025) IDF Diabetes Atlas. 11th edn.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2019) Diabetic foot problems: prevention and management (NG19). London: NICE.
Pop-Busui, R., Boulton, A.J.M., Feldman, E.L., et al. (2017) 'Diabetic neuropathy: A position statement by the American Diabetes Association', Diabetes Care, 40(1), pp. 136–154.
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