Your diabetes diagnosis was hard to hear, but on some level, you knew that your health was in danger. You try to keep control over your blood sugar as best you can, but it isn’t easy—and now that your feet have started going numb, it’s even harder to get the exercise your doctor recommended. Is there a way to prevent—or even reverse—the nerve damage that diabetes is causing in your feet?
What Is Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is a common condition in diabetic patients who have difficulty controlling their blood sugar levels. High blood glucose levels can interrupt nerve signals in the hands and feet, causing pain, tingling, or even total loss of feeling.
The early symptoms of diabetic neuropathy often include:
Difficulty wearing shoes or socks due to pain in the toes
A persistent tingling or burning feeling in the feet
Inability to feel pain in the foot or toes
Muscle weakness, balance problems, or difficulty walking
Inability to feel heat or cold in the feet or toes
Pain in the feet that worsens with walking or during the night
How Does Diabetic Neuropathy Lead to Serious Injuries?
Numbness in the feet is only the beginning of the problems neuropathy may cause. The inability to feel pain will often lead to injury, as patient may stub their toes or step on sharp objects without noticing. If patients with neuropathy do not inspect their feet often, they may not notice a cut or wound until it has become infected. Not only are neuropathy sufferers more likely to be injured, they are more likely to suffer infection, as neuropathy also inhibits blood circulation that is necessary for wounds to heal properly. All of these factors put neuropathy patients at high risk of infection that leads to the amputation of a foot or leg.
Avoiding Amputation Begins With Early Treatment
The best way to avoid diabetes foot complications is to see your podiatrist early and often. At Podiatry Care Specialists, PC, we know that an annual examination of your foot is not enough to combat the dangers of neuropathy. We perform regular, thorough exams to detect any changes in the foot, such as broken skin or ingrowing toenails, and test for signs of a worsening condition to reverse the effects more quickly.
Not only do we provide hands-on care in our offices, we ensure that our patients stay healthy between visits. We teach proper preventative care methods and participate in the Medicare Diabetic Shoe Program, helping patients find therapeutic shoes that fit properly at no cost to them. Contact Podiatry Care Specialists today to find out how we can help you avoid serious complications of diabetes.