![]() A number of different medications are available, which produce comparable effects. Check shoes for stones, sticks and other foreign objects that might hurt your feet every time before putting your shoes on.Ī referral to a podiatrist may be appropriate for assessment and ongoing preventive management of foot complications.Īppropriate pain management can significantly improve the lives of people with diabetes and painful neuropathy. avoiding activities that may injure the feet.choosing appropriate socks and shoes properly fitted to the shape of your foot.getting help at the first sign of trouble – early treatment of foot ulcers gives the best chance that they will heal.vigilance – regular inspection of the feet for early signs of trouble or potential problem areas (such as breaks in skin, signs of infection or deformity).However, the risk of further complications in the feet can be reduced by: tests to exclude other possible causes of neuropathy ( such as low vitamin B 1or thiamine levels).ĭamaged nerves cannot be repaired.checking the reflexes at your ankles and knees.checking your feet and legs for responses to stimuli such as temperature, light touch, pain, movement and vibration.taking a medical history for symptoms typical of neuropathy.The diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy may include: Smoking, high blood pressure and being overweight also make it more likely that people with diabetes will get nerve damage. People experiencing complications of their diabetes elsewhere in their body (such as in the kidneys, heart or eyes) are also more likely to have or develop neuropathy, as the same factors that cause these problems also contribute to neuropathy. The longer a person has diabetes and the worse the control of their diabetes, the more likely they will develop diabetic neuropathy. Improving lipid levels may also reduce the incidence of nerve damage in people with type 2 diabetes. The benefits of good glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes are more modest. However, good glucose control in people with type 1 diabetes can reduce neuropathy by 60%. High glucose and lipid (fat) levels in the blood, and the toxic byproducts they generate through their metabolism, are thought to be the major causes of neuropathy associated with diabetes. irregular heart beat (known as ‘arrhythmia’).difficulty achieving and/or maintaining an erection.slow emptying of the stomach leading to nausea, heartburn or pain.This is called autonomic neuropathy and may cause a range of problems including: The autonomic nerves, which regulate the functioning of organs and glands without our conscious effort, can also be damaged by diabetes. Together, these can lead to the formation of a foot ulcer. numbness means damage to the feet may go unnoticed.weakness leads to deformities in the feet, like claw or hammer toes, and bunions.balance problems increase the risk of falls.These symptoms can have a major effect on health and wellbeing because: Neuropathic pain is often worse at night, and can seriously disrupt sleep patterns. ![]() Typical symptoms vary from person to person, but may include one or more of numbness, pins and needles, tingling, discomfort, or weakness, which usually begin in both feet and spread symmetrically up the legs.Ībout half of those people with diabetic neuropathy experience significant pain in their feet and increased sensitivity to painful stimuli (known as neuropathic pain or painful neuropathy). Most people with diabetic neuropathy are unaware that they have nerve damage, until it is picked up on routine screening by their doctor. Management aims to ease symptoms and reduce the risk of further complications. Up to half of all people with diabetes develop neuropathy during the course of their disease. It most commonly affects the nerves to the feet and hands, but any nerves can be involved, including those that control internal organs (autonomic nerves). Diabetes is the most common cause of neuropathy. Neuropathy means damage to the nerves of the peripheral nervous system.
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