Your Feet Are Not a “Blood Sugar Meter” — But They Can Show Diabetes-Related Problems 🦶
Visible changes in your feet cannot diagnose diabetes or tell you your blood-sugar level. However, diabetes can damage nerves and blood vessels over time, producing recognizable foot symptoms.
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12 foot symptoms worth paying attention to
Tingling or pins-and-needles
Burning sensations
Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain
Unusual foot pain or extreme sensitivity
Weakness or balance problems
A change in foot shape
Persistent swelling
Dry, cracked skin
Changes in foot color or temperature
Loss of hair on the toes or lower legs
Thickened, yellow or abnormal toenails
Blisters, cuts, ulcers, or wounds that heal slowly
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Some people with diabetic nerve damage have few or no symptoms, which is why people with diabetes are encouraged to check their feet every day and have regular foot examinations.
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What should you do?
If you have several of these symptoms—or you’re concerned that you may have diabetes—don’t try to diagnose yourself from your feet. A healthcare professional can check your blood glucose and, when appropriate, perform tests such as an A1C.
If you already have diabetes, seek medical attention promptly for a new sore, infected wound, significant swelling, color/temperature change, or worsening numbness or pain.
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Bottom line: Your feet can sometimes reveal complications of diabetes, but they aren’t a blood-sugar meter. The only reliable way to determine whether your blood sugar is too high is appropriate blood-glucose testing.
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