Diabetic Foot (Neuropathy)
What is it?
Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occur if you have diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy most often occurs in your legs and feet, but high blood sugar can also injure nerve fibers throughout the rest your body.
Depending on the affected nerves, symptoms of diabetic neuropathy can range from pain and numbness in your extremities to problems with your digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. For some people, these symptoms are mild; for others, diabetic neuropathy can be painful, disabling and even fatal.
Diabetic neuropathy is a common serious complication of diabetes. Yet you can often prevent diabetic neuropathy or slow its progress with tight blood sugar control and a healthy lifestyle.
Key Symptoms
Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain or changes in temperature, especially in your feet and toes
A tingling or burning feeling
Sharp, jabbing pain that may be worse at night
Extreme sensitivity to the lightest touch — for some people even the weight of a sheet can be agonizing
Muscle weakness
Loss of reflex response
Serious foot problems, such as ulcers, infections, deformities, and bone and joint pain
Insight and Recommendations
from Schuler Shoes' Board Certified Pedorthist
This is not a medical diagnosis but a footwear recommendation to offer symptom relief. It is meant to supplement your doctor's treatment plan.
Anyone with diabetes should be under the care of a physician who is monitoring the advancement of the disease.
Determining the treatment protocol depends greatly on the stage or advancement. A thorough patient history and documented stage of advancement combined with a closely monitored regiment of treatment is paramount to the patient. Foot ulceration is a major concern and can lead to amputation in as little as 48 hours from onset. This type of patient will normally have a daily routine that must be implemented in addition to any footwear or insole selection.
Typically, shoes with an extra-depth toe box, removable footbed, and a seamless or nonbinding construction will offer comfort and protection for this type of foot condition.
In most cases, a special custom orthotic to accommodate the foot and protect from ulceration is recommended and prescribed.
A consultation with a certified specialist is recommended in order to come up with and implement a plan that is best suited to the individual.
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References: Mayo Clinic