What do you know about Diabetes Related Foot Problems?

1. True or False? For people with diabetes, having too much glucose (sugar) in their blood for a long time can cause some serious complications, including foot problems.

Diabetes can cause two problems that can affect your feet. Diabetic neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease.

2. What is diabetic neuropathy?

A. Nerve damage

B. Poor blood flow

3. What problems does neuropathy pose?

A. Not being able to feel heat or cold

B. Not being able to feel a cut or sore on your foot, causing it to get infected

C. Muscles of the foot may not function properly

D. All of the above

4. What is peripheral vascular disease?

A. Nerve damage

B. Poor blood flow

5. What problem does peripheral vascular disease pose?

A. It takes longer for a sore or cut to heal

B. It creates too much pressure in one area of the foot

C. It causes to foot to not align properly

Foot ulcers occur because of neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease.

6. It is estimated that what percentage of people with diabetes will develop foot ulcers?

A. 10%

B. 25%

C. 30%

For those with diabetes, it is important to check feet daily to avoid infections. Getting infections treated properly early on can help to avoid them becoming a bigger issue, such as ulcers or gangrene (when body tissue dies).  If you experience any lower extremity pain or notice any open sores, see a physician right away. 

Check out the answers to the quiz in the comments below.

Image by Charli Lopez. Feet. (2011). Flickr.