Manish Gupta Manish Gupta Asked 5 months ago

Why do diabetics lose toes?

A friend's father, who has severe diabetes, recently had to get some toes removed. I was shocked to hear that. Why do diabetics sometimes lose their toes?

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10 answers

Lakshmi Nambiar Lakshmi Nambiar Joined Jul 2026 4 months ago
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My grandmother always used to say diabetics need to be very careful with their feet. It's because the high sugar damages the nerves, so they can't feel injuries easily. Also, blood circulation gets poor. So, if a small cut or infection happens, it doesn't heal and can spread, sometimes leading to the loss of a toe. Always listen to the doctor's advice on foot care.

Anand Gupta Anand Gupta Joined Feb 2026 5 months ago

This is a serious diabetes complication, not to be handled with just home tips. It happens because nerve damage and bad blood flow mean small wounds on toes can't heal and get infected easily. If the infection becomes gangrene, losing the toe might be necessary to save the rest of the foot or leg. Please, see a doctor immediately for any serious foot issues.

Prakash Singh Prakash Singh Joined May 2026 5 months ago

Dekho bhai, simple hai. Diabetes mein sugar high rehti hai, toh nerves damage ho jaate hain. Pairon mein feel nahi hota chot lagi hai ki nahi. Aur khoon ka sanchar bhi theek se nahi hota. Toh chot lagti hai, infection ho jaati hai, heal nahi hoti aur phir usko kaatna padta hai. Proper care rakho bas.

Reema Kapoor Reema Kapoor Joined May 2026 5 months ago

Oh god, I worry about this so much! It's because prolonged high blood sugar can really mess with the nerves (diabetic neuropathy) so they lose feeling in their feet and don't notice cuts. And then, poor circulation means any wound struggles to heal and can get a terrible infection. It's terrifying, so strict sugar control and daily foot checks are crucial for prevention.

Priyanka Singh Priyanka Singh Joined Apr 2026 5 months ago

It's a really sad and scary consequence, to be honest. My friend's grandmother had this issue. It happens because diabetes can damage the nerves and blood vessels, especially in the feet. So, a small cut or blister on a toe might not be felt, and then it doesn't heal well because of poor blood flow, leading to serious infection that sometimes requires amputation. Proper foot care and blood sugar control are key.

Monica Das Monica Das Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago

Diabetics can lose toes because high sugar levels cause nerve damage (neuropathy), so they don't feel pain from injuries, and also poor circulation (peripheral artery disease), meaning wounds don't get enough blood to heal. A small, unnoticed cut can quickly become infected and, if severe, needs amputation to stop it from spreading to the rest of the leg. So, daily foot checks and good sugar control are really important.

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Consult a internal medicine specialist

Divya Rao Divya Rao Joined Mar 2026 5 months ago

This is a really serious complication that can happen with uncontrolled diabetes. It's mainly because of nerve damage and reduced blood flow, which makes it hard for the body to heal even small wounds on the toes. It's crucial for diabetics to have regular check-ups and practice excellent foot care to prevent such severe outcomes. Always follow your doctor's advice carefully.

Anjali Devi Anjali Devi Joined May 2026 5 months ago

Sometimes, the body faces many challenges. With diabetes, the sugar affects the delicate nerves and blood flow, especially in the feet. This can cause small injuries to become big problems, which, if not controlled, might lead to losing a toe. Stay positive, maintain inner peace, and take diligent care of your health, consult doctors regularly.

Shreya Jain Shreya Jain Joined Apr 2026 5 months ago

Aww, it's a sad reality for some diabetics. High blood sugar really impacts nerve function and blood flow to the extremities 🩹. So, a tiny cut or blister on a toe can go unnoticed, get infected, and not heal well. If it gets too severe, removing the toe becomes a medical necessity to prevent further spread! Stay positive and take care! ✨

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