Diabetes can affect the skin, including the skin on the feet. In some cases, uncontrolled diabetes may result in complications, such as red spots being present on the feet.

Diabetes can have an impact on many parts of the body, including the skin. In some cases, this can cause symptoms, such as red spots, to manifest on the feet.

Typically, when red spots appear on the feet, this may suggest that a person needs to adjust their treatment plan for managing diabetes. Usually, a person can reduce symptoms by better managing the condition.

A person wearing sandals on their feet-1.Share on Pinterest
Luis Alvarez/Getty Images

Changes to the skin are one of the most common signs of diabetes. Some evidence suggests that roughly 30% of people living with diabetes will experience a skin problem at some stage.

This is because diabetes can affect both nerves and blood vessels, which are abundantly present in the skin. Typically, diabetes may affect the skin when blood sugar levels have been too high over a period of time.

Potential complications that can result in red spots on the feet may include:

Diabetic dermopathy

Diabetic dermopathy is the most common skin manifestation of diabetes, and may affect up to half of people living with diabetes. The condition typically presents as light brown or reddish, round scaly patches. They appear most frequently on the shins, but can appear on the side of the foot.

These lesions are usually harmless and do not require any specific treatment, often going away after periods of improved blood glucose control.

Bullosis diabeticorum

Also known as diabetic bullae or bullous eruption of diabetes mellitus, this describes a skin condition where painless, noninflammatory blisters spontaneously appear on the skin of people with diabetes. They typically appear on the extremities, such as the feet.

Usually, the blisters are self limiting, meaning they heal on their own within 2 to 6 weeks. However, in some cases antibiotics or surgery may be necessary is an infection is present.

Eruptive xanthomatosis

Eruptive xanthoma describes crops of small yellow to red papules that can occur all over the body, including on the feet.

Xanthomas are a type of dyslipidemia, which refers to irregular blood lipid levels. Eruptive xanthomas primarily occur due to high triglyceride levels in the blood, which may result from uncontrolled diabetes. The lesions are usually harmless, but may be itchy. Typically, the papules disappear with better management of diabetes.

In addition to causing red spots on the feet, diabetes can also have more serious complications that can affect the feet. Over time, long periods of hyperglycemia can cause nerve damage and poor circulation.

Eventually, this can result in diabetic neuropathy. When it affects the feet, healthcare professionals call it peripheral neuropathy. This nerve damage my mean that a person cannot feel things properly and can damage their feet without noticing.

If damage occurs to the blood vessels, it can also slow wound healing, which can increase the risk of developing infections and other complications. In some cases, this may result in diabetic foot ulcers. These are painful open wounds on the feet that are prone to infection, and can potentially result in serious complications such as gangrene and amputation.

Other possible complications can include Charcot’s foot. This is a condition where nerve damage due to diabetes can cause bone and joint changes in the foot. It can cause bones in the feet to become very fragile and can start to break or dislocate in response to minor forces, such as standing and walking.

A person can lower their risk of foot complications from diabetes by managing their blood glucose levels and taking care of their feet. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) provides the following tips:

  • check feet daily for any sores, cuts, cracks, blisters, or redness
  • wear suitable socks and footwear
  • avoid wearing shoes without socks
  • consider asking a healthcare provider about compression socks or stockings
  • washing feet with warm, not hot, soapy water
  • regularly trimming toenails
  • attending regular foot care visits and exams

Diabetes can cause red spots to appear on the feet. Typically, these skin lesions occur due to long periods of high blood sugar levels. Possible causes of red spots can include diabetic dermopathy, bullosis diabeticorum, and eruptive xanthomatosis. Symptoms usually resolve after improving blood glucose levels.