National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Diabetic Foot is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Diabetic Foot
If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels are too high. Over time, this can damage your nerves or blood vessels. Nerve damage from diabetes can cause you to lose feeling in your feet. You may not feel a cut, a blister or a sore. Foot injuries such as these can cause ulcers and infections. Serious cases may even lead to amputation. Damage to the blood vessels can also mean that your feet do not get enough blood and oxygen. It is harder for your foot to heal, if you do get a sore or infection.
You can help avoid foot problems. First, control your blood sugar levels. Good foot hygiene is also crucial.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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Start Here
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Diabetes - Foot Care
(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
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Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime
(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
- Also available in Spanish
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Diabetes - Foot Care
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
,
Learn More
, and
Multimedia & Cool Tools
.
For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
,
Reference Shelf
, and
For You
.
For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
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Overviews
- Foot Care(American Diabetes Association)
- Foot Care in Diabetes Mellitus (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
- Living With Diabetes: Keep Your Feet Healthy(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Also available in Spanish
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Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Feet and Skin Healthy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Latest News
- Oxygen Treatment May Not Help Foot Ulcers(02/22/2013, Reuters Health)
- Health Tip: Help Prevent Foot Ulcers(02/18/2013, HealthDay)
- Diabetics Found to Underuse Special Footwear(01/24/2013, Reuters Health)
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Disease Management
- Amputation and Diabetes: How to Protect Your Feet(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Diabetic Foot and Risk: How to Prevent Losing Your Leg(American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
- Diabetic Neuropathy: What is a Total Contact Cast?(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
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Specific Conditions
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Diabetic Neuropathy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
- Diabetic Wound Care(American Podiatric Medical Association)
- Foot Complications(American Diabetes Association)
- Return to top
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Diabetic Neuropathy
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Related Issues
- Charcot Foot(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Also available in Spanish
- Cracked Heels(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Also available in Spanish
- Shoes and Orthotics for Diabetics(American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
- Return to top
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Pictures & Photographs
- Diabetic Ulcer (Neurogenic Ulcer)(Logical Images)
- Return to top
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Tutorials
- Diabetes - Foot Care(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Diabetic Foot(National Institutes of Health)
- Return to top
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Diabetic Foot
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Research
- Access: Diabetes Research(American Diabetes Association)
- Return to top
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
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Diabetes Dictionary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Diabetes Dictionary
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Directories
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Directory of Diabetes Organizations(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Find an Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle MD/DO(American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
- Return to top
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Directory of Diabetes Organizations
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Organizations
- American Diabetes Association
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National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Return to top
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Statistics
- FastStats: Diabetes(National Center for Health Statistics)
- Return to top
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Patient Handouts
- Diabetes - foot ulcers
- Also available in Spanish
- Diabetes - taking care of your feet
- Also available in Spanish
- Foot amputation - discharge
- Also available in Spanish
- Leg or foot amputation - dressing change
- Also available in Spanish
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Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime(National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Languages
Diabetic Foot - Multiple Languages
