

Also, follow your diabetes care team's advice for keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Don't smoke smoking makes arteries harden faster. You can control some of the things that cause poor blood flow. Diabetes causes blood vessels of the foot and leg to narrow and harden. Poor circulation (blood flow) can make your foot less able to fight infection and to heal. Wear shoes that fit well and don’t rub your feet.


Take good care of your feet and see your doctor right away if you see any signs of foot problems. Poor blood flow or changes in the shape of your feet or toes may also cause problems. It can also cause loss of feeling in the foot, so you can injure it and not know it. This can cause tingling, pain (burning or stinging), or weakness in the foot. Even ordinary problems can get worse and lead to serious complications.įoot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage, also called neuropathy. People with diabetes can develop many different foot problems.
