Diabetes can lead to major foot-related complications. It's easy to ignore some of the signs and symptoms of these problems or dismiss them. But, it's important to pay attention to what's going on with your feet!

Ignoring a small cut or blister can result in larger problems like foot ulcers and amputations. Today, we're sharing 5 symptoms you should not ignore.

1. Foot Pain: Pain in your feet can be one of the earliest signs of diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that impacts your feet. Eventually, this pain will go away and you'll lose sensation in your feet and toes. This makes it harder to know if your shoes are too tight or if you've experienced an injury. Talk to your doctor about the severity and duration of your foot pain. They may refer you to a podiatrist to conduct an assessment themselves.
2. Tingling/Pins and Needles: You may experience strange sensations that feel like your feet are asleep. This is also a symptom of nerve damage, neuropathy. If you're experiencing tingling sensations bring it up to your doctor. It could be a sign of nerve damage or a circulation problem.
3. Loss of Sensation: If you find that you can't feel any part of your feet or does, contact your doctor. This commonly happens due to nerve damage and can be very dangerous.
4. Blisters: When you have diabetes, a simple blister can turn into an open wound or sore quickly. If you have diabetes and get a blister consult with your doctor immediately about proper care.
5. Open Wounds: If you notice blood or any open sores or wounds goto your doctor immediately. The sooner that you take care of the injury the better.

How to Prevent Foot Problems and Complications

If you have diabetes, you should have a foot exam at least once a year. At this appointment, your doctor will go through your specific risk factors and the things you can do to protect your feet. Some of the things you can do:

• Check your feet every day
• Wash and dry your feet thoroughly
• See a podiatrist regularly
• Wear the best fitting shoes for each type of activity
• Don't walk barefoot

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