Peripheral Neuropathy
Neuropathy is an especially common complication in the diabetic population. This thought to be due to excessive blood sugars damaging nerves either directly or indirectly. Diabetes can affect multiple different types of nerve groups including sensory nerves (pain, temperature etc.), motor nerves (muscle control, strength, tone), and autonomic nerves (sweating, other involuntary functions). This is problematic because diabetics also are at high risk for peripheral vascular disease and being immunocompromised as well. The combination of these as well as other issues puts the diabetic patient significantly at risk for ulceration (wounds). These can become infected and with elevated sugars (over 200) the patient is also immunocompromised.Diabetes does not cause peripheral neuropathy overnight. Consistent elevated blood sugars significantly increase your chances of developing neuropathy. Currently there is no cure for neuropathy and most treatments present other than controlling your blood sugars are directed at diminishing pain.
Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy could include numbness, tingling, pain, discomfort (including prickly sharp or burning pain), muscle weakness, loss of balance, change in foot shape, ulcerations (wounds), dry feet, cracked skin.
The diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy can be made by your foot and ankle surgeon. They will perform simple tests to evaluate your neuropathy. In some cases and neurological consult may be ordered.
Prevention is again key in the progression of diabetic neuropathy. This is why it is so important that every patient with diabetes be seen at least on an annual basis by their foot and ankle Doctor. If neuropathy or vascular diseases present it should be done semiannually. If history of and ulceration is present the patient should be seen in every other month.
Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy could include numbness, tingling, pain, discomfort (including prickly sharp or burning pain), muscle weakness, loss of balance, change in foot shape, ulcerations (wounds), dry feet, cracked skin.
The diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy can be made by your foot and ankle surgeon. They will perform simple tests to evaluate your neuropathy. In some cases and neurological consult may be ordered.
Prevention is again key in the progression of diabetic neuropathy. This is why it is so important that every patient with diabetes be seen at least on an annual basis by their foot and ankle Doctor. If neuropathy or vascular diseases present it should be done semiannually. If history of and ulceration is present the patient should be seen in every other month.