Type 2 diabetes warning - how the weather could increase risk of THIS complication

From express.co.uk

TYPE 2 diabetes complications can include foot ulcers which can go unnoticed by people with the condition.
People with diabetes have a much greater risk of developing problems with their feet, due to the damage raised blood sugars can cause to sensation and circulation.
Now a footwear company has warned warm wet weather increases the risk of serious infections for diabetics.
It said the currently weather - warm but humid and with heavy downpours could cause problems for people with diabetes.
Experts at IOMO Footnurse Socks are reminding people with the condition that warm wet weather could leave them at an increased risk of foot ulcers.
“For the 4 million people in the UK who are living with diabetes, ill-fitting footwear is more than just an uncomfortable inconvenience,” said a spokesman for the company.
“With diabetes, a simple cut or blister can turn into what’s known as a diabetic foot ulcer, but with due attention to what we put on our feet can minimise the risk.
“Raised blood sugar levels impact on sensation and circulation, meaning that even small wounds can go unnoticed, and take longer to heal.
“The feet are a particularly good breeding ground for bacteria, providing a warm, moist and dark environment for it to thrive.

“This can be made worse by in the current humid and rainy conditions.”
Experts have warned wearing inappropriate footwear for the current weather can be very serious for diabetics.
Around 10 per cent of diabetics will experience a foot ulcer, which in the worst cases can lead to amputation.
Symptoms of a foot ulcer include a wound that is painful to the touch, firm in the surrounding area, warm or discoloured.
People with type 2 diabetes are recommended to see a podiatrist once a year on the NHS, but doctors warn people should also regularly check feet themselves.
IOMO said choosing the correct footwear can prevent ulcers developing.
Guidance by health watchdog NICE said: “Foot complications are common in people with diabetes.
“It is estimated that 10 per cent of people with diabetes will have a diabetic foot ulcer at some point in their lives.
“A foot ulcer can be defined as a localised injury to the skin and or underlying tissue, below the ankle, in a person with diabetes.”
“Poor blood flow also means the wound heals much slower, and in the most devastating cases, this can lead to amputation.”
Diabetes UK said has previously said more money should be ploughed into improving treatment for people with foot ulcers.

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/851546/type-2-diabetes-symptom-foot-ulcer-weather