Severe Diabetes & Loss of Foot Sensation in Transport Workers

In transport, logistics, and other safety-critical industries, foot health is not just a personal issue it is a safety issue. For workers with diabetes, particularly those with poor circulation or nerve damage, reduced sensation in the feet can lead to serious and irreversible consequences if ignored.

Workplace podiatry plays a vital role in preventing severe diabetic foot disease before it puts lives, livelihoods, and businesses at risk.

When Diabetes Affects Feeling in the Feet

One of the most serious complications of diabetes is peripheral neuropathy, where nerve damage causes reduced or lost sensation in the feet. Workers may experience:

• Tingling or pins and needles

• Burning sensations

• Numbness

• Feeling like they are “walking on cotton wool”

Many people ignore these symptoms, believing they are normal but tingling is often the warning sign before numbness sets in. Once sensation is lost, injuries can go unnoticed.

The Risk of Vascular Foot Disease

Diabetes also affects circulation. Peripheral vascular disease reduces blood flow to the feet, meaning wounds heal slowly or not at all. This combination of poor sensation and poor circulation dramatically increases the risk of:

• Foot ulcers

• Infection

• Tissue damage

• Amputation

Amputation is not sudden  it is usually the result of missed warning signs and delayed assessment.

Why This Is a Serious Workplace and Public Safety Issue

In transport roles, drivers rely on their feet for:

• Pedal control

• Balance when entering and exiting vehicles

• Stability during loading and unloading

If a worker cannot feel their feet properly, they may not recognise injury, pressure, or instability. This creates risk not only to the individual, but also to:

• Passengers

• Other road users

• Colleagues

• The business itself

Ignoring diabetic foot health can have consequences far beyond the individual.

The Cost of Late Intervention

When diabetic foot disease is identified late, the impact on businesses can be severe:

• Long-term sickness absence

• Permanent loss of skilled workers

• Increased insurance and compensation costs

• Recruitment and retraining expenses

• Reputational damage in safety-critical industries

By contrast, early assessment is low-cost and highly effective.

Why Early Assessment Saves Lives and Money

Early workplace podiatry intervention can:

• Detect reduced sensation before it becomes permanent

• Identify circulation problems early

• Prevent ulcers and infections

• Reduce the risk of amputation

• Support workers to remain safe and fit for work

Early action can save limbs, careers, and lives, while also protecting business continuity.

Breaking the “It’s Normal” Mindset

Many workers ignore tingling or numbness because they fear consequences or believe it is part of getting older. Education and access to workplace podiatry helps change this mindset, encouraging early reporting rather than late crisis management.

Prevention Is the Responsibility of Forward-Thinking Employers

Transport and industrial businesses rely on healthy, capable workers. Providing access to workplace podiatry shows a commitment to:

• Public safety

• Workforce protection

• Risk management

• Long-term cost control

Prevention is always more effective and more ethical than reacting after serious harm has occurred.

Conclusion

Severe diabetic foot disease does not happen overnight. It develops quietly, often ignored, until the consequences are life-changing. In transport and safety-critical roles, the risks extend beyond the individual to the wider public.

Workplace podiatry helps identify danger early, prevent irreversible damage, and protect both workers and businesses. Early assessment is not just good healthcare it is responsible risk management.