Why You Should Never Ignore a Foot Wound If You Have Diabetes

Podiatrist wearing gloves carefully examining the sole of a patient’s foot to check for wounds or signs of diabetic foot comp

For the millions of Americans who have diabetes (more than 38 million), one of the biggest concerns is diabetic foot ulcers. The alarming reality is that diabetic foot ulcers affect 1.6 million Americans each year, half of these foot wounds become infected, and 20% of these infections lead to amputation.

Now that we have your attention with these eye-opening statistics, let’s go in a more positive direction.

Since November is National Diabetes Month, our extensive team of foot health experts at Neuhaus Foot and Ankle wants to discuss the importance of early diabetic foot care when you have a wound. We regularly help patients across Lebanon and Middle Tennessee manage diabetic foot conditions before they become serious complications.

The Link Between Diabetes and Foot Ulcers

A great place to start this discussion is to explain the link between diabetes and foot ulcers.

When you have diabetes, the levels of glucose in your bloodstream aren’t well-regulated due to a lack of insulin and/or insulin resistance. Over time, elevated blood sugar levels can damage your peripheral nervous system and reduce blood flow to your lower extremities.

In fact, nearly half of people with diabetes develop peripheral neuropathy, which is nerve damage.

This combination of nerve damage and poor circulation significantly increases your risk for slow-healing foot wounds.

Why Diabetic Foot Wounds Are So Dangerous

The increased risk comes down to two major factors.

First, you may not feel a wound when it develops. Peripheral neuropathy can cause numbness in your feet and ankles, meaning small cuts, blisters, or sores can go unnoticed.

Second, wounds heal more slowly due to compromised circulation. Without proper blood flow, your body struggles to deliver the oxygen and nutrients needed for healing.

How Healing Becomes Delayed

We want to expand on this second contributor a little more.

When you have a wound, your body initiates a four-phase healing process:

Stasis, which stops the bleeding
Inflammation, which prepares the body for repair
Cell proliferation, which rebuilds tissue
Maturation and remodeling, which strengthens the healed area

When circulation is poor, this process can stall—often during the inflammatory phase. Without adequate oxygen and healing resources, the body cannot progress effectively through the remaining stages.

This delay creates an opportunity for bacteria to enter the wound and cause infection. Once infection develops, healing becomes significantly more difficult.

Why Early Treatment Matters

When you have diabetes, early intervention is critical.

It’s important to check your feet at least once a day for any signs of cuts, blisters, or open wounds. Even small issues can quickly progress if left untreated.

If you notice anything unusual, schedule an appointment right away. Early treatment allows us to promote healing, reduce infection risk, and prevent complications before they escalate.

Don’t Ignore Even Small Wounds

When we say any wound, we mean it.

Even something as minor as a broken blister that isn’t healing properly should be evaluated. What may seem small on the surface can develop into a much more serious issue beneath.

If you have diabetes, always err on the side of caution when it comes to foot wounds.

Schedule an Appointment

If you have a wound on your foot, ankle, or lower leg and you have diabetes, don’t wait to seek care.

Our team at Neuhaus Foot and Ankle provides expert diabetic foot care across Middle Tennessee, including Lebanon, Nashville, and surrounding communities.