"Change the shape" is a specific phrase, and it is worth taking literally. Readers in and around Itasca who have diabetes sometimes notice a foot that looks different and wonder whether the two are connected.
What the wording allows
Yes, it can happen, but the wording sets a limit. NIDDK says that, although rare, nerve damage from diabetes can lead to changes in the shape of your feet, such as Charcot's foot.
Read the qualifiers one at a time. "Rare" tells you this is not the expected course. "Nerve damage" names the route. "Such as" tells you Charcot's foot is an example, not the full list.
Why a changed shape deserves attention
The sentence above does not say every change in foot shape comes from diabetes. It names one route, nerve damage, and one example, so a clinician has to look at the foot to say whether your change fits.
For general reading on how diabetes affects the feet, see MedlinePlus on the diabetic foot, CDC guidance on promoting foot health and the American Diabetes Association foot care tips.
What to confirm, and with whom
If your foot looks different from last month, tell your clinician about it at the next visit or sooner. Ask directly whether the change is linked to nerve damage and what, if anything, should be checked.
The clause people skip
"Rare" can be read as "not me." Do not let it. A rare outcome is still the one you would want named early, so ask the question out loud instead of assuming the answer.