Diabetes and Athlete’s Foot: What a Podiatrist Needs You to Know

If you have diabetes, you may be aware of how diabetic neuropathy can affect your feet. Diabetic neuropathy can cause numbness and other sensations in the feet and legs, which tends to mask any pain a person might feel from any cuts or sores they might have on the feet. If they’re not cared for properly, this can lead to infection.

If you do end up with athlete’s foot, be sure to get it treated immediately, especially if you have diabetes. In most cases athlete’s foot can be treated with over-the-counter antifungal creams, but prescription medicines may be needed for more serious infections. If the athlete's foot doesn't clear up after a couple of weeks, talk to your doctor.

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Written by:

Brittany Doohan

Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.

Reviewed by:

Sanjai Sinha, MD

Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

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