The burning and sharp heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis has become quite common and widespread, but is the any link or correlation to Diabetes? Is there a cause and effect relationship between plantar fasciitus and Diabetes? Is Diabetes a factor in plantar fasciitis? Are Diabetics more susceptible to damage of the plantar fascia and the resulting heel pain of plantar fasciitis? I hope to answer a few of these questions and possibly stir up a few more questions in the process.
Is Diabetes related to Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is caused from damage, tearing and strain of the ligament known as the plantar fascia. Diabetes is a high blood sugar (glucose) level resulting from the body not producing enough insulin or its inability to use the insulin that is produced. Diabetics often have problems healing and getting sufficient circulation to the extremities like the feet and thus can suffer from foot related problems. When a diabetic gets an infection in the foot, it can take much longer to heal than it would for a person without diabetes. The healing of the plantar fascia could also be slowed down in a diabetic’s foot in much the same way. The excess blood sugar in the blood stream from diabetes has been shown to cause long term tissue damage. The tissue damage from diabetes often manifest in the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels, gums, and of course the feet. A person who has had diabetes for many years can definitely develop foot problems from nerve damage and poor blood circulation. This can certainly have an effect on the plantar fascia the same way it affects the rest of the foot. I think it’s absolutely valid to say that diabetes is, and can be a contributing factor in plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis has been said to be caused from physical causes. Things like improper footwear, bad posture while walking or standing, over use or over stretching and sports injuries. Plantar fasciitis is also caused by over tightening of antagonistic muscles like the calf and others that due to their inflexibility pull on the plantar fascia and cause small tears. In most all cases, there is a clear physical cause that can be remedied and will eventually bring about relief. This indicates that plantar fasciitis is not directly related to things like blood sugar but rather caused from tearing brought about by physical causes.
From my research I found no absolutely conclusive evidence of a direct causal relationship between Diabetes and plantar fasciitis. This being said, there are some clear pointers that a positive correlation exists between the two. A diabetic will be at risk for any number of foot related complications and will have a harder time recovering than a non diabetic. For plantar fasciitis to develop though, a physical cause is needed, either a onetime accident or more commonly, a recurring misalignment or misuse.
In conclusion, there is a link between diabetes and plantar fasciitis but no evidence of a direct causal relationship. Diabetes can be a factor in plantar fasciitis and diabetics are more susceptible to developing plantar fasciitis and may have a harder time healing than others.
