Diabetic Foot – Act now to save your Legs and Feet

Dr. Sujeeth Kumar Bashetty blog,diabetic foot

Last updated: 7 July 2026 · Author: Dr. Sujeeth Kumar Bashetty, MBBS, MS, FIAGES — Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeon, Hyderabad

Why diabetic foot deserves your attention

India is home to one of the largest populations of people living with diabetes in the world, and foot problems are among the most common — and most preventable — serious complications. A large share of leg amputations begin as a small foot ulcer that was noticed too late or treated too casually.

Surgeons frequently see patients only at a very late stage — with gangrene of the foot and sepsis spreading through the body — where the only option left to save the life is to remove part of the limb. What makes this tragic is that almost every one of these stories started with something small: a blister, a crack in the skin, a nail cut too deep. With awareness and simple daily care, most of these situations can be avoided. This guide covers what every person with diabetes should know.

What is diabetic foot?

“Diabetic foot” is not one disease. It is the result of three problems that long-standing or poorly controlled diabetes causes in the feet, often together:

Nerve damage (neuropathy): high sugar levels slowly damage the nerves, so the feet lose their normal sensation. A stone in the shoe, a burn from hot water, or a cut can go completely unnoticed.
Poor blood supply (peripheral arterial disease): diabetes narrows the arteries of the legs. Wounds receive less oxygen and nutrition, so even minor injuries heal slowly or not at all.
Infection: high blood sugar weakens the body’s defences. An unnoticed, poorly healing wound becomes an easy entry point for bacteria, which can spread to deeper tissue and bone.

Numbness hides the injury, poor circulation prevents healing, and infection takes advantage — that is how a small crack in the heel can progress to an ulcer, and an ulcer to gangrene.

Early warning signs to watch for

Tingling, burning or “pins and needles” in the feet, especially at night
Numbness — not feeling hot, cold or pain normally
Dry, cracked skin; corns or hard calluses that keep coming back
Any cut, blister or sore that has not healed within a week or two
Change in the colour or shape of the foot, or swelling of one foot
Pain in the calves while walking that eases with rest (a sign of poor circulation)

If you have diabetes and notice any of these, mention it at your next consultation rather than waiting for it to become painful — by the time a numb foot hurts, the problem is usually advanced.

Daily foot-care checklist

Inspect both feet every day — tops, soles, heels and between the toes. Use a mirror or ask a family member if you cannot see the soles.
Wash and dry feet daily, especially between the toes; apply moisturiser to dry areas but not between the toes.
Never walk barefoot — not at home, not in the garden, not even for a quick trip outside. Wear footwear that covers and protects.
Check inside your shoes before wearing them for stones, torn lining or rough seams.
Cut nails straight across; do not cut corns or calluses yourself, and avoid “corn cap” acid plasters.
Avoid hot water baths and heating pads on numb feet — test water temperature with your elbow, not your foot.
Keep sugars, blood pressure and cholesterol controlled, and if you smoke, take help to stop — smoking further reduces blood flow to the feet.

Red flags: when to seek urgent surgical review

Some situations should not wait for the next routine appointment. Seek medical attention the same day if you notice:

Redness, warmth or swelling spreading up the foot or leg
Pus, foul smell or discharge from a wound
An ulcer that is deepening or exposing underlying tissue
Blackening or blue-grey discolouration of a toe or part of the foot (possible gangrene)
Fever or feeling generally unwell along with a foot wound
Sudden severe pain, or a cold, pale foot

Infection in a diabetic foot can progress within days, sometimes hours. Early review does not always mean surgery — but late review often does.

How a surgeon helps

Diabetic foot care works as a team effort, and the surgeon’s role is to control infection and protect the limb:

Assessment: examining sensation and pulses, and using tests such as Doppler studies, X-rays or MRI to check circulation and rule out deep or bone infection.
Debridement: removing dead and infected tissue so healthy tissue can heal, along with drainage of any abscess.
Infection control: wound cultures and targeted antibiotics, with proper dressings and offloading (keeping pressure off the wound).
Limb-salvage approach: treatment is planned step by step with the aim of preserving as much of the foot as possible; where circulation is poor, a vascular specialist is involved to assess whether blood flow can be improved.
Working with your diabetologist: wounds do not heal while sugars stay high, so sugar control is managed in parallel with the wound.

Consultations and foot assessments are done at Apollo Clinic, Manikonda; when a procedure is required, it is performed at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills.

Prevention: the habits that protect your feet

The feet pay the price of uncontrolled diabetes, so prevention starts with the basics: regular medication, sensible diet, physical activity and periodic HbA1c checks as advised by your doctor. Add to that an annual comprehensive foot examination — even if your feet feel fine — because neuropathy is silent in its early stages. Well-fitting, cushioned footwear, daily self-inspection and treating every small wound seriously complete the routine.

Frequently asked questions

My feet feel normal. Do I still need foot check-ups?

Yes. Nerve damage often begins without any symptoms, and by the time numbness is obvious, protective sensation may already be reduced. People with diabetes are advised to have their feet examined at least once a year, and more often if any risk factors are found.

Can a diabetic foot ulcer heal without amputation?

Many ulcers heal with timely treatment — debridement, infection control, offloading and, where needed, procedures to improve blood flow. The single biggest factor is how early treatment starts: the earlier an ulcer is seen, the more options the care team has.

Is it okay to remove corns or hard skin myself?

No. Blades, razors and acid-based corn caps frequently cause wounds that a person with neuropathy cannot feel, and these can become the starting point of an ulcer. Corns and calluses in a diabetic foot should be managed by a trained professional.

References

Concerned about your symptoms? Consult Dr. Sujeeth Kumar Bashetty at Apollo Clinic, Manikonda (consultation Rs.1,000) — call or WhatsApp +91 99630 09090 or book online.