Many individuals who have abnormal blood sugar levels are unaware of the warning signs that their bodies are sending them.
They may already be experiencing issues by the time they become aware that they have diabetes.
As of 2021, there were around 537 million people with diabetes worldwide; the majority of them had type 2 diabetes, according to the most recent data released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
While some people fail to appropriately manage their blood sugar after receiving a diagnosis, which can result in hazardous complications, many people disregard abnormal blood sugar levels and avoid medical treatment.
Diabetes is a long-term condition. A brief spike in blood sugar might not be harmful right away, but persistently elevated blood sugar levels over months or years can seriously injure the body. Complications from diabetes are the most terrifying because once important organs are destroyed, they cannot be repaired. Blindness, heart problems, or even limb amputations are common among diabetic people.
Early detection of high blood sugar levels is essential to preventing such problems.
Thankfully, the feet are frequently thought of as a “blood sugar meter.” The feet are among the first to alert when blood sugar levels are not properly managed.
The following five odd foot symptoms could be signs of high blood sugar that need to be treated right away:
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is caused by high blood sugar, which can seriously harm nerves. Patients may develop numb feet as a result of neuropathy, which is irreversible once it starts.
This numbness can get worse if untreated, giving the impression that the feet are no longer a part of the body.
Patients may also become less sensitive to pain and temperature. They may therefore be oblivious to extremely hot water, which raises the possibility of burns when soaking their feet.
Leg Cramps
Blood arteries can be seriously harmed by high blood sugar. Within a year or two, poorly managed diabetes can result in arteriosclerosis, which narrows blood vessels and causes plaque accumulation.
Patients may have frequent leg cramps when the blood arteries in their legs narrow. The issue worsens at night, particularly in colder climates, when blood vessels constrict more, aggravating oxygen shortage and ischemia (decreased blood supply).
People with diabetes frequently have itching feet, which they wrongly think is eczema. Even after seeing several dermatologists and taking different anti-itch drugs, their problems might not go away. The true cause is inadequate blood sugar regulation.
Furthermore, aberrant sensations can result from nerve damage brought on by high blood sugar, and skin alterations brought on by malfunctioning sweat and sebaceous glands can exacerbate itching.
As was already noted, diabetics have a decreased sensitivity to temperature, making them more vulnerable to foot injury. They could sustain burns without being aware of it.
This is due to the fact that diabetes impairs immunity, which permits germs to grow on the wound. High blood sugar also destroys blood vessels, which lowers blood flow and hinders the healing process even more.
Dark patches or pigmentation on the lower legs are common in diabetics. Scars from prior blisters or skin infections are frequently to blame for this.
Conclusion:
It’s critical to monitor your blood sugar levels and get medical help right away if you regularly have these odd foot sensations. Improving quality of life and preventing serious complications are two benefits of early diabetes testing and treatment.