Foot complications are among the most important reasons not to dismiss numbness or wounds.
Diabetes can reduce sensation in the feet, meaning injuries may go unnoticed. It can also impair circulation and make wounds more difficult to heal. When these problems occur together, infections can become serious.
Good foot habits include:
* checking your feet regularly
* wearing properly fitting shoes
* keeping feet clean and dry
* avoiding walking barefoot when injury is possible
* checking shoes for objects or rough areas before putting them on
* seeking professional care for persistent wounds.
People who already have diabetes should follow the individualized foot-care recommendations given by their healthcare team.
## When Should You Seek Medical Advice?
Make an appointment if you repeatedly experience unexplained fatigue, numbness, tingling, unusual leg discomfort, or wounds that take longer than expected to heal.
Medical attention becomes more urgent if a foot wound develops increasing redness, swelling, warmth, drainage, discoloration, fever, or worsening pain.
People with reduced sensation should be particularly cautious because serious foot injuries may sometimes cause surprisingly little pain.
## The Bottom Line
Changes that appear while walking can occasionally reveal health problems that deserve attention, but they should never be used to diagnose diabetes on their own.
Four signs worth noticing are:
