Diabetes changes how your body uses the food you eat. After a meal, food becomes sugar (glucose) and enters your bloodstream. Your pancreas normally releases insulin to help your cells use that sugar for energy. When insulin is missing or not working well, blood sugar stays higher than it should — and over time that can harm blood vessels and nerves, especially in your feet.
Why diabetes leads to foot problems
For people with diabetes, these three outcomes lead to foot problems:
- Higher blood sugar: Long-term high glucose damages nerves and small blood vessels.
- Poor circulation: When blood flow to your feet is reduced, even small scrapes take longer to heal.
- Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy): Nerve injury reduces feeling — or can cause odd sensations like burning, pins and needles, or sharp pain.
Together, these concerns can mean that a tiny problem (blister or scrape) can turn into something much worse if it’s not noticed and treated.
Why is neuropathy in the feet serious?
Loss of feeling in the feet is dangerous because you may not notice injuries. A small cut can become infected and develop into a wound that’s hard to heal. Neuropathy can also be painful — not everyone feels numbness; some people feel burning, stabbing, or overwhelming sensitivity. That pain can disrupt sleep, work, and mood.
Ways to reduce nerve pain and protect your feet
There’s no guaranteed cure for diabetic neuropathy yet, but many approaches help manage symptoms and prevent complications.
Medical treatments
Some medications can reduce nerve pain:
- Gabapentin or pregabalin (anti-seizure drugs)
- Duloxetine or amitriptyline (certain antidepressants used for nerve pain)
Not every medicine works for every person, and side effects differ — talk with your healthcare provider to find the safest option for you.
Daily habits that help
Small, steady steps make a big difference:
- Keep blood sugar in your target range. Good control slows nerve damage.
- Manage blood pressure and cholesterol. These protect circulation.
- Eat balanced meals and aim for a healthy weight.
- Stay active. Walking, swimming, or seated exercise improves circulation.
- Quit smoking, because it worsens blood flow to the feet.
Foot care at home
Check your feet every day for cuts, redness, blisters, or swelling. Use a mirror or ask someone to help if you can’t see the bottoms. Keep skin moisturized (but not between toes as this creates a wet, fungus prone environment), trim nails straight across, and don’t self-treat corns or calluses if you have poor circulation or neuropathy — see a professional.
When to see a BioPed Clinician
Your local BioPed Footcare team offers specialized care to prevent and treat diabetic foot problems:
- Regular foot assessments, including a Diabetes Risk Assessment to check sensation and blood flow.
- Professional nail and skin care from Registered Chiropodists and Advanced Footcare Nurses at select locations.
- Proper footwear fitting to avoid pressure and friction that causes sores.
- Custom orthotics to prevent and address wounds.
- Education — we’ll teach you even more on what to watch for and what to do at home.
When to get help right away
Contact your clinician or book an appointment if you notice:
- Any foot wound that isn’t healing
- Redness, swelling, warmth, or drainage
- New or worsening numbness, burning, or pain
- A change in skin colour or temperature
Take the next step:
If you have diabetes, neuropathy, or are noticing numbness or tingling in your feet, don’t wait. Find the nearest BioPed Footcare location and make an appointment with one of our lower-extremity clinicians at bioped.com/locations. We’re here to help keep you walking comfortably and safely.
