Diabetes is a systemic disease that has a huge impact on the entire body – especially on the feet. One of its most common and insidious complications is diabetic neuropathy, meaning damage to nerve fibres.
Many patients associate foot problems mainly with difficult wound healing. However, it is less often said that sensory damage changes the way the foot receives signals from the external environment.
When the warning mechanism of pain stops working properly, taking care of your feet requires a completely new approach and building conscious habits.
What is neuropathy and how does it affect the feet?
Sensory neuropathy gradually reduces the ability to feel:
- pain (you do not feel pressure, cuts or foreign bodies in the shoe),
- temperature (it is more difficult to judge whether the water is hot or cold),
- touch and vibration (the feeling of the ground changes).
Additionally, autonomic neuropathy leads to decreased sweat secretion. The skin on the feet becomes extremely dry, rough, waxy and susceptible to deep cracks, which are an open gate for microorganisms.
When the body does not send a signal: “Ouch, that hurts, take that shoe off!”, a small abrasion may turn into a more serious inflammation without being noticed.
Practical prevention: What to watch out for every day?
Traditional advice often focuses on generalities. Let’s look at specific, small habits that actually protect tissues from damage:
1. Change the habit: Replace feeling with sight
Since the nervous system does not report any discomfort, your eyesight must take over the role of the “sensor”.
- Make it a habit to check your feet every day – preferably in the evening.
- If you find it difficult to bend down, use a small mirror or ask someone in your household for help.
- Look for redness, blisters, small cracks in the skin or changes in nail colour.
2. Check the inside of the shoes with your hand
Before you put your foot in the shoe, put your hand in it and check the sole and sides. A small pebble, a bent insole, a rolled sock or a protruding seam are not noticeable in neuropathy, and after a few hours of walking they can lead to deep damage to the skin.
3. Check the water temperature before washing your feet
The water should be lukewarm. Check its temperature with a thermometer, especially if you also have reduced sensation in your hands. Wash your feet without soaking them, then dry them thoroughly, including between the toes.
4. Don’t walk barefoot – even at home
Even a seemingly safe carpet or floor at home can pose risks. Stepping on a crumb, needle or tiny toy part, or stubbing a toe against a bed, can cause a small injury. Soft indoor footwear with a stable sole protects against unexpected pressure.
5. Choose socks that do not constrict your feet
Toe seams in ordinary socks can create constant pressure on one point. Choose socks designed for people with diabetes: seamless, with loose cuffs and made from natural, breathable materials such as cotton or bamboo fibre.
What should you absolutely avoid in home care?
- Sharp tools: Razors, cuticle nippers, metal foot files and heel shavers should no longer be part of your bathroom kit. With reduced sensation and slower healing, a moment’s loss of concentration can result in damaged skin.
- Corn patches and exfoliating fluids: Preparations available in pharmacies often contain concentrated acids. In a person with diabetes, they can lead to a chemical burn and a wound that is difficult to heal.
- Intense heating of the feet: Hot-water bottles, electric heating pads and soaking feet in hot salt water are very risky when you have neuropathy.
Professional podology support
Diabetic foot and neuropathy require professional, careful treatment. Regular visits to the podology practice allow for safe, stress-free nail cutting, removal of calluses using sterile tools and ongoing monitoring of the skin condition.
Preventive care when you have diabetes means building sensible, simple habits that help you feel safe and stay active every day, rather than limiting your life out of fear.
If you have diabetes, a new wound, swelling, redness or a noticeably warmer foot requires urgent contact with a doctor, even if it does not hurt.