What You Should Know About Diabetic Neuropathy
Posted on: 26 January 2018
When you struggle with diabetes, there are many issues and factors that you need to think about each and every day. One of the diabetes-related issues that you may not know too much about is diabetic neuropathy. Get to know some of the important facts about diabetic neuropathy so you can be sure you are taking the best possible care of your health going forward.
What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy is a nerve condition that can develop as a complication of diabetes. Elevated blood sugar that goes uncontrolled for a prolonged period of time can lead to nerve damage all throughout the body. However, most of the nerve damage that occurs in diabetic neuropathy is in the legs and feet.
What Are the Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy can sometimes go unnoticed for quite some time. This is because it often causes partial numbness of the legs and feet rather than other more tangible symptoms. Numbness can go unnoticed entirely or attribute to other issues, and, therefore, may go unreported to a physician.
Other symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include tingling or burning sensations in the legs or feet, leg, or foot cramps, and problems with balance or coordination. If you have diabetes and notice any of these symptoms, it is vitally important to report them to your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner diabetic neuropathy is detected and diagnosed, the easier it will be to manage and deal with.
What Are the Complications of Diabetic Neuropathy?
Many people assume that a little numbness or tingling in their extremities are no big deal and can just be ignored, even after a diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy. However, this is not the case. When it comes to diabetes, foot and leg problems are among the most severe and serious complications.
If you cannot properly feel your feet, blisters, ulcers (sores), and other issues can go unnoticed for a prolonged period of time. When this happens, infections can set in. These infections can quickly become severe and can spread up the leg. Even something as simple as an ingrown toenail can become a major problem when it goes noticed and untreated right away.
Unfortunately, when infections in the feet become especially severe or spread beyond the foot, they may be beyond treatment with antibiotics. Severe infections associated with diabetic neuropathy can actually lead to foot and leg amputations.
With these facts about diabetic neuropathy in mind, you can be sure that you are doing everything you can to detect and deal with this condition if you experience it as a part of your diabetes. Contact a company like Wisconsin Spinal Rehabilitation Center for more information and assistance.
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