Diabetic Foot & Leg Pain

Diabetes can cause many complications, including heart disease, blindness, kidney damage, nerve damage, and vascular disease. Feet and legs can suffer a lot of damage because blood has to flow farther to reach them, and many diabetes complications involve impaired blood flow.

Hardening of the Arteries

• Diabetes causes blood vessels to harden and narrow so blood can't flow the way it should. Your legs and feet have a hard time healing and fighting off infection when blood doesn't circulate properly.

Amputation

• Open sores on a diabetic's feet and legs that don't heal or keep coming back can develop infections. If not treated, infections cause tissue to die, leading to amputation.

Neuropathy

• Nerve damage from diabetes, also called neuropathy, can change the shape of your feet and their sensitivity to pain and temperature.

Skin

• There are changes in your skin when nerves that control moisture don't work. Skin on your feet and legs can become very dry, peel and crack.

Prevention/Solution

• To prevent diabetic foot and leg pain, lose weight, get exercise and keep blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels under control. Quit smoking and check with your doctor to see if aspirin therapy or blood thinners to prevent blood clots will help.