Diabetes and Peripheral Neuropathy

Spoon full of sugar on a table with word "Diabetes" spelled out in front of it.

Glucose or sugar is vital to our health and an important source of energy for much of our body and brain function and Diabetes is a group of diseases that affects how our body uses that source of energy. No matter what type of diabetes you have, it affects how your body breaks down that sugar and results in an excess glucose in your blood that can lead to an array of health problems. According to the American Diabetes Association, 1 in 3 Americans are pre-diabetic. 

Diabetes can affect many major organs. One of the major complications often associated with diabetes is foot problems. 

Diabetic foot complications can arise from one or all of the following underlying causes:

For this week, we will focus on Neuropathy  and what you can do to manage and prevent conditions that can arise from it. 

Neuropathy – occurs when nerves become damaged from long term or uncontrolled diabetes resulting in the way your body detects heat, cold, or pain. An analogy I often use is, “a house without a fire or smoke alarm”.  Basically, if you aren’t able to sense a cut or detect a sore, it can often worsen and become infected, leading to conditions like cellulitis, abscess formation, or worse, bone infection, resulting in need for complex wound care or surgical intervention, including amputations. Everyday, 230 Americans with diabetes will suffer an amputation (Fakorede, AJMC).

Aside from alerting us to different sensations, nerves also control how muscles function and if these are damaged, this can result in foot deformities such as hammertoes and bunions which can increase pressure to parts of our feet resulting in wound formation. 

The end result is a vicious cycle that can greatly impact the health of your feet. But the good news is, there’s much that can be done to reduce these risks. 

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery provides the following tips:

If you have diabetes with or without neuropathy, stay vigilant and seek care at the first sign of problems. Your management team should include your primary care physician or endocrinologist and your podiatrist. 

Early treatment can help prevent many diabetic foot infections and complications that can result in amputations. 

Bluebonnet Foot and Ankle Institute is here to help if you or your loved ones suffer from the pain of neuropathy or any diabetic foot complications or concerns. Schedule your diabetic foot evaluation today with one of our podiatrists online or call (512) 394-5108.

Increasing Awareness This National Diabetes Month Can Save Limbs and Lives, Dr. Fakorede,AJMC

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Foot Health Facts, ACFAS

AUTHOR

Dr. Babak Kaviani

Dr. Babak Kaviani is a board certified podiatrist and founder of Bluebonnet Foot and Ankle Institute. He demonstrates his love of podiatric medicine in his continued charity work and mission trips to Latin America. When he is not practicing medicine, you can find Dr. Kaviani spending time with his wife and two kids, cooking, swimming, or enjoying a good book.