Understanding Diabetes: How It Affects Your Feet and Your Life

Topics include: Conditions, Healthy Habits, Provider Advice

You Are Not Alone

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes, take a deep breath. You’re joining more than 1 million people who receive this diagnosis each year.

While diabetes is a serious condition that can significantly impact your overall health—including the health of your feet—the key word here is can. With proper knowledge, daily habits, and the right healthcare team, you have the power to protect yourself and maintain your quality of life.

That’s exactly why we’re beginning this educational series: to give you the tools and understanding you need to take control of your diabetes journey. We’ll start with how diabetes affects your feet, then continue with practical strategies for managing this condition and preventing complications.

What Diabetes Does to Your Body

Diabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels remain consistently elevated. Over time, these high glucose levels primarily damage three critical systems in your body:

The Circulatory System:
Reduced blood flow throughout your body, especially to your extremities

The Nervous System:
Decreased sensation and potential movement issues, particularly in your feet and hands

The Immune System:
Compromised ability to fight off infections and heal wounds

Here’s what makes diabetes particularly challenging: much of this damage cannot be reversed once it occurs. That’s why prevention and early intervention are crucial.

Maria’s Story: A Preventable Tragedy

To illustrate just how serious untreated diabetes can become, let me share Maria S.’s story to show you what we’re working together to prevent.

Maria had been diagnosed with diabetes over two years ago but did not take the immediate actions her doctor recommended. She didn’t monitor her blood sugar levels and never saw the Upperline Health specialist her primary care doctor recommended. When what she thought was a “small sore” on her foot persisted for over a month, she finally went to the emergency department.

The findings at the ER were upsetting:

Her blood sugar was dangerously high
She had no circulation to her feet
She couldn’t feel her feet at all
The “small sore” was actually a deep ulcer that had reached the bone

Because Maria couldn’t feel her feet, she had unknowingly continued walking on the wound every day. Her poor circulation meant her body couldn’t deliver the resources needed to fight off the infection. By the time she sought help, the damage was too severe—she required a below-knee amputation.

The Good News: Maria’s Story Could Have Been Different

Maria’s outcome was tragic, but here’s what’s important to remember: it was entirely preventable. Simple daily habits and proactive healthcare decisions can make all the difference between living well with diabetes and facing life-altering complications.

Your Prevention Action Plan

The path to successfully managing diabetes and protecting your feet starts with these essential steps:

1. Take Your Diagnosis Seriously

Follow your doctor’s recommendations completely. If your primary care physician refers you to a specialist, make that appointment immediately. Our Upperline Health specialists and teams are ready to partner with you in your care.

2. Monitor Your Blood Sugar Daily

Consistent daily monitoring gives you and your healthcare team the information needed to make informed treatment decisions.

3. Know Your A1C Level

Your Hemoglobin A1c test shows your average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months. This number is crucial for tracking your long-term diabetes management.

4. Maintain a Diabetes-Friendly Diet

Proper nutrition is one of your most powerful tools for controlling blood sugar levels and preventing complications.

5. Perform Daily Foot Checks

Examine your feet every single day. If you can’t see the bottoms of your feet clearly, ask a family member, friend, or caregiver to help. Early detection of any changes or problems can prevent serious complications.

What’s Coming Next

In our upcoming articles, we’ll dive deeper into each of these prevention strategies and show you how Upperline Health specialists work with patients to maintain health and prevent complications like those Maria experienced.

Remember: your diabetes diagnosis is a call to action. With the right knowledge, support, and daily habits, you can live a full, healthy life while successfully managing your diabetes.

About the Author

H. Austin Hewlett, DPM, FACFAS, QME

Dr. Hewlett is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He is the Sports Medicine Fellowship Director at the Specialty Surgical Center of Irvine, and a Regional Medical Director at Upperline Health.

Prior to his academic education, Dr. Hewlett spent four years traveling the world surfing and studying Viticulture in Australia. Following his return to the states, Dr. Hewlett graduated from the University of California San Diego before going on to Temple University for his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. After completing his Surgical training, he joined Cambridge Foot and Ankle Associates, Inc. and has been a partner there since 2005. He currently serves as Sports Medicine Fellowship Director at Specialty Surgical Center of Irvine as well as being a member of the Orthopedic Executive Committee at Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

Dr. Hewlett has been serving the Orange County community with compassion for 17 years. This coupled with constant education allows him to offer his patients the highest level of care available.

Dr. Hewlett is available for appointments at the following locations: