|  | Conditions Treatments | Diabetes

Are Hammer Toes Caused by Diabetes?

Hammer toes is a foot condition caused by weakened muscles, resulting in the toes appearing bent or curled under. Complications from diabetes can cause the muscle weakness that leads to hammer toes.

  1. Facts

    • Hammer toes is one of many foot-related complications that can result from diabetes. These complications can be avoided by appropriately managing blood glucose (sugar) levels and taking safety precautions to protect the feet.

    Causes

    • The characteristic curling of the toes seen with hammer toes results from shortening of the connective tissue tendons. The condition can be hereditary, or disease related, as in the case of diabetes.

    Diabetes Connection

    • The tendons become shortened due to generalized muscle weakness resulting from diabetic neuropathy or poor blood flow to the area. These are common complications when diabetics allow their blood sugar levels to remain elevated over prolonged periods of time.

    Treatments

    • Depending on the severity, hammer toes can be treated with corrective shoes. For more difficult cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the condition.

    Considerations

    • Hammer toes can be troublesome for diabetics because they can lead to blisters, sores, irritated skin and difficulty walking. Many of these conditions can predispose diabetic patients to infections, which are more difficult to treat in diabetics.

Diabetes - Related Articles