Severe occlusion can lead to gangrenous changes of the toes as a result of tissue death. Surgery will be needed to remove the dead tissues and in severe cases, amputation of the foot or leg. This can cause a burning and tingling sensation and numbness of the feet. Patients also have reduced or loss of pain sensation and may develop skin sores and ulcers on the feet due to trauma if good foot care is not instituted. Diabetics are more prone to skin infections.
Examples are styes, boils and fungal infection.
Some infections can be serious and require immediate medical attention eg. Necrotising fasciitis is a serious and life- threatening skin infection which may extend deep down to the muscles and requires immediate treatment and surgery. This is a rare complication of diabetes, again due to small blood vessel disease of the skin. Skin lesions usually appear on the shin. The affected skin has a reddish brown border with a yellowish centre.