The claim that “your feet are a blood sugar meter” is misleading. Your feet cannot diagnose diabetes. However, diabetes can affect the nerves and blood vessels in the feet, so changes in your feet may be a reason to seek medical evaluation—especially if you have risk factors for diabetes.
Here are 12 foot-related symptoms that can be associated with diabetes:
- Numbness or reduced sensation in the feet.
- Tingling or “pins and needles.”
- Burning pain, especially at night.
- Sharp or shooting pains.
- Slow-healing cuts, blisters, or sores.
- Frequent foot infections, including fungal infections.
- Dry, cracked skin, which can increase the risk of infection.
- Changes in foot shape or deformities over time due to nerve damage.
- Loss of balance because you can’t feel your feet well.
- Cold feet or poor circulation, although many other conditions can also cause this.
- Skin color changes or ulcers that don’t heal.
- Loss of hair on the feet or lower legs, which may be a sign of poor circulation.
These symptoms may occur because of:
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves)
- Peripheral artery disease (reduced blood flow), which is more common in people with diabetes
Other common symptoms of diabetes
In addition to foot problems, diabetes may cause:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Increased hunger
- Blurred vision
- Unexplained weight loss (more common in some forms of diabetes)
- Fatigue
- Recurrent infections
When to seek medical care
See a healthcare provider if you:
- Have a foot sore that isn’t healing.
- Notice redness, warmth, swelling, or drainage from a wound.
- Experience new numbness or severe foot pain.
- Have symptoms of diabetes and have never been tested.
Bottom line
Foot changes can be an important warning sign of diabetes or its complications, but they are not a substitute for checking your blood sugar. Diabetes is diagnosed with blood tests, such as:
- A fasting blood glucose test
- An Hemoglobin A1c test
- An oral glucose tolerance test
If you already have diabetes, inspecting your feet every day, wearing well-fitting shoes, and having regular foot examinations can help prevent serious complications.
