Can type 2 diabetes cause diabetic foot ulcer?

High blood glucose over time may damage nerves, reducing the ability to feel heat, pressure, rubbing, or a cut. Diabetes can also affect blood flow and make healing more difficult. A blister from footwear, a cracked area of skin, or a minor wound may therefore go unnoticed and become infected. Not every foot wound is a diabetic foot ulcer, but any break in the skin deserves attention when you have diabetes. Inspecting both feet helps you notice changes that sensation may not reveal.

Look at the tops, soles, heels, and spaces between the toes each day, using a mirror if needed. Wash gently, dry carefully, and moisturise dry skin without applying cream between the toes. Wear well-fitting shoes and clean socks; do not walk barefoot. Do not cut corns, use harsh wart products, or remove thick skin yourself. Arrange a foot review for a blister, crack, cut, colour change, swelling, or area that stays warm or painful.

Get same-day medical advice for an open wound, spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus, unpleasant smell, fever, or a foot that suddenly changes colour. Seek urgent help if you feel very unwell, become confused, or develop rapidly worsening pain or swelling. Reduced sensation does not make a wound harmless; it can simply hide its severity.

Ask: Do I have reduced sensation or circulation in either foot? How should I dress a wound, and who should review it? What footwear is suitable, and how often should my feet be checked?