Written by Vivekananda Hospital Editorial Team | Medically reviewed by Dr. V. Raja Sekhar (Foot Surgeon & Podiatrist, 24+ years)
Expert in diabetic foot care, foot ulcers, limb salvage, and foot & ankle surgery, Vivekananda Hospital, Begumpet | Last reviewed: 30 June 2026
See a Foot Specialist Urgently If You Notice
Any cut, blister, or sore on the foot that is not healing, redness or swelling, black or discoloured skin, foul smell, pus, or a wound you did not feel happen. In a long-standing diabetic, a small foot wound can turn serious fast. Do not wait. Call +91 7207904418.
Key Takeaways
- 01 Years of high blood sugar damage the nerves and blood supply in the feet, so a diabetic can injure a foot without feeling any pain.
- 02 Numbness, burning or tingling feet, difficulty walking, and poor balance are early warning signs of diabetic nerve damage.
- 03 That same nerve damage weakens balance, which raises the risk of a fall and a fracture. Checking balance early helps prevent serious injury.
- 04 Daily foot checks, the right footwear, good sugar control, and a yearly foot exam prevent most diabetic foot complications.
Diabetic foot care is the daily routine and medical attention that protects the feet of a person with diabetes from injury, infection, and ulcers. It matters because long-standing diabetes damages the nerves and the blood vessels in the feet. The nerve damage takes away sensation, so a cut or blister goes unnoticed, and the poor blood supply means wounds heal slowly and infect easily. The same nerve damage also weakens balance, which is why many long-standing diabetics fall. Good foot care, checking your feet every day, wearing proper footwear, controlling blood sugar, and getting a yearly foot and balance check, prevents most of these problems.
"The patients who lose a toe or a foot almost never started with a big problem. They started with a small blister or a crack they could not feel. By the time they noticed, infection had set in. The other thing people miss is balance. When the nerves in the feet are damaged, the body loses its sense of the ground, and falls follow. That is why we now check balance, not just the skin. Catch both early and almost every amputation is preventable."
Dr. V. Raja Sekhar, Foot Surgeon & Podiatrist, Vivekananda Hospital Begumpet
India has one of the largest diabetic populations in the world, and diabetic foot complications are a leading cause of lower-limb amputation here. Most of these amputations follow a foot ulcer that began as a minor, painless injury. The encouraging part is that the vast majority are preventable with early checks and simple daily care, which is the entire reason behind the free camp described below.
Why Diabetes Damages the Feet
Three changes happen in the feet of a long-standing diabetic, and together they create the danger.
Nerve damage
High sugar over years damages the nerves, called diabetic neuropathy. The feet go numb, so cuts, blisters, and burns are not felt. Pain is the body's alarm, and diabetes switches it off.
Poor blood supply
Diabetes narrows the blood vessels feeding the feet. Less blood means wounds heal slowly and infections spread, because the body cannot deliver enough oxygen and immune cells to fight them.
Lost balance
The same nerve damage removes the feet's sense of the ground. Without that feedback, balance suffers, walking becomes unsteady, and the risk of a fall and a fracture rises sharply.
Early Warning Signs You Should Not Ignore
If you have been diabetic for several years, watch for these. Any one of them is a reason to get your feet and balance checked.
Unsteady, slow, or careful walking, or feeling you might trip.
Burning, tingling, or a pins-and-needles feeling, often worse at night.
Swaying when standing, holding walls for support, or near-falls.
Changing foot shape, claw toes, or new pressure points and hard skin.
A small balancing problem today can lead to a serious fracture tomorrow. In older diabetics, a hip or leg fracture from a fall can be life-altering. That is why balance is now treated as part of diabetic foot care, not separate from it.
The Link Between Diabetes, Balance, and Falls
Balance depends on your feet telling your brain where the ground is. In a long-standing diabetic, nerve damage cuts that signal, so the body is slower to correct itself when you step on an uneven surface or turn quickly. The result is swaying, unsteadiness, and falls, often at home, often leading to fractures.
Most people never know their balance is slipping until they fall, because the change is gradual. This is exactly why a measured balance check is valuable. Instead of guessing, equipment can quantify how steady you are and flag a problem early, while it can still be improved with exercises, the right footwear, and treatment. Catching weak balance before the first fall is far better than treating a fracture after it.
How to Take Care of Your Feet Every Day
Most diabetic foot problems are prevented by a simple daily routine. None of this is complicated, and it takes a few minutes.
Free Diabetic Balance & Foot Check Camp
Are you a long-standing diabetic? Get your balance and feet checked before a small problem becomes a serious injury. Free quantitative balance testing on advanced equipment, plus expert advice from a foot surgeon.
Date
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Time
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Venue
Vivekananda Hospital OPD, Begumpet
What you get free: quantitative balance testing with advanced equipment, a foot screening, and personalised advice from Dr. V. Raja Sekhar, Foot Surgeon & Podiatrist with 24+ years of experience. No referral needed. Free registration.
Call now to book: +91 7207904418 or 040-35261414 / 15
Related Specialists at Vivekananda Hospital
Diabetic foot care often needs a team, because the problem starts with diabetes and reaches the nerves, kidneys, and circulation:
- Dr. V. Raja Sekhar (Foot Surgeon & Podiatrist), for diabetic foot, ulcers, limb salvage, and foot & ankle surgery. View profile
- Dr. Ravi Sishir Reddy (MBBS, MD General Medicine), for diabetes control and overall management. View profile
- Dr. E. Praveen (Nephrology), for diabetic kidney complications that often accompany foot disease. View profile
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Medical Reviewer
Dr. V. Raja Sekhar is a Foot Surgeon and Podiatrist at Vivekananda Hospital, Begumpet, Hyderabad, with more than 24 years of experience. He specialises in diabetic foot care, foot ulcers, limb salvage procedures, and foot and ankle surgery.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general health information and education only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Diabetic foot problems need assessment by a qualified doctor. If you have a non-healing wound or any warning sign, contact your doctor or call +91 7207904418.
References: International Diabetes Federation (IDF) | International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) | WHO Diabetes fact sheet.