That headline is misleading. Your feet are not a blood-sugar meter, and foot symptoms cannot diagnose diabetes. However, diabetes can affect nerves and circulation, so certain persistent foot changes deserve attention.
12 symptoms sometimes associated with diabetes
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Numbness or reduced sensation in the feet
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Tingling or “pins and needles”
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Burning or unusual nerve pain
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Increased sensitivity to touch
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Feeling unusually cold in the feet
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Dry, cracked skin
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Slow-healing cuts or sores
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Recurrent foot infections
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Changes in skin color
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Reduced hair growth on the feet or lower legs
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Foot ulcers
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Unexplained pain or weakness in the legs/feet
These aren’t specific to diabetes. Nerve compression, circulation problems, nutritional deficiencies, medications, and other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
More important diabetes clues
Diabetes commonly causes symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision—although type 2 diabetes can also have no obvious symptoms.
If you have persistent foot numbness or a wound that isn’t healing, particularly if you already have diabetes, arrange a medical assessment. A blood test such as fasting glucose or HbA1c is what actually helps determine whether you have diabetes—not looking at your feet.
Don’t wait for foot symptoms before checking your blood sugar if you have diabetes risk factors.
