3. Itchy Feet

Diabetes patients often have itchy feet, mistakenly believing it to be eczema. They may visit various dermatologists and use various anti-itch medications, yet symptoms persist. The real culprit is poor blood sugar control.

Uncontrolled blood sugar and a weakened immune system increase the risk of skin infections, such as boils, bacterial infections,
folliculitis, and fungal infections, including athlete’s foot and nail fungus, which cause persistent itching.

In addition, nerve damage caused by high blood sugar can cause abnormal sensations, while dysfunction in sweat and sebaceous glands may cause skin changes, further contributing to itchiness.

4. Slow or Non-Healing Foot Wounds

As mentioned earlier, diabetes patients are more susceptible to foot injuries due to reduced sensitivity to temperature. They may have burns without realizing it.

Once a wound appears on the foot, it tends to heal very slowly—or not at all.

The reason is that diabetes weakens the immune system, allowing bacteria to accumulate on the wound. At the same time, high blood sugar damages blood vessels, reducing blood supply and further impairing the healing process.