People with diabetes need to be especially concerned about the health of their feet due to some of the long-term complications of diabetes. Neuropathy, or diabetic nerve damage, can decrease the sensation in your feet so you may not be able to feel temperature changes, pressure or pain in your feet. It can be so severe that it may prevent you from feeling a rock in your shoe, a blister or the hot sand. This loss of sensation is what causes most problems for the feet. Neuropathy can also damage the nerves in your feet that control moisture.
Skin then becomes very dry and often cracks.
The cracks allow bacteria to enter and can cause an infection. Changes in the muscles and shape of your feet can cause deformities like hammer toes and calluses. Ill-fitting shoes can put pressure on these areas, causing sores or ulcers. Poor circulation to your feet occurs when the blood vessels to your feet are damaged or clogged. The decreased supply of blood to your feet results in fewer nutrients and oxygen to your feet, causing injuries or sores to heal more slowly.