Foot pain and numbness could be signs of Diabetic Neuropathy

Verified by: Dr. Mahesh Chavan, Consultant Endocrinology, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai.

What is diabetic neuropathy?

Numbness in the feet, one of the most common long-term complications of type 2 Diabetes, is a symptom of neuropathy or nerve damage. Neuropathy is caused by poor control of blood sugar that persists over a long time. Prolonged exposure to high blood sugars, over a period of time, can damage the nerves throughout the body – leading to a condition called Diabetic Neuropathy. Although diabetic neuropathy is most common in people having type 2 diabetes for over 5 years, it may also occur in people who are prediabetes.

Why are the feet affected in diabetic neuropathy?

The higher and, the longer the blood sugars stay high, the greater the chance of an individual developing neuropathy. The longest nerves in the body tend to get affected by high sugars. These nerves go from the spine to the toes, which is why feet get affected first.

Signs of diabetic neuropathy

While some people may not show any symptoms of nerve damage, others may notice pain, numbness, or tingling in the extremities. At the beginning, diabetic neuropathy starts in the feet and then slowly progresses upward. In the feet, diabetic neuropathy can not only cause numbness but pain and injuries as well.

In addition, it can change the shape of the feet, deforming them to such a level that it can no longer fit into regular shoes. It can also dry out and damage the skin, interfere with circulation, cause calluses and ulcers on the feet. However, the numbness of the affected skin also makes it hard for the diabetic patient to sense if there is a cut or injury which can increase the risk of infections and amputation.

Which doctors are involved in diabetic foot care?

Diabetic foot care involves a multidisciplinary team approach involving an endocrinologist, plastic surgeon and an interventional radiologist.

An endocrinologist is involved in educating, screening, medical management and advising preventive lifestyle measures for appropriate diabetic foot care.

A plastic surgeon does therapeutic procedures like skin grafting, wound debridement, reconstructive surgery and microvascular surgeries for diabetic foot whenever indicated.

An interventional radiologist focuses on addressing vascular issues that contribute to foot complications in diabetes through complex endovascular procedures like atherectomy (removal of plaque), thrombectomy (removal of blood clots), or arterial bypass using catheters and specialized devices.

A clinical dietician helps individuals with diabetes to focus on maintaining a balanced diet with the right amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and minerals along with water. It is also important to incorporate diet according to the dose of medications &/or insulin taken and activity status of the individual to help optimize glycemic (sugar) control & prevent diabetic foot & its complications.

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Apollo Diabetic Foot Care Clinic

Healthy Feet, Healthy Lives

At Apollo Diabetic Foot Care Clinic, we believe that ‘Healthy feet will always lead you to healthy lives.’ Our diabetic foot care specialists will help you understand proper foot care if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. For those with long term diabetes or diagnosed with diabetic foot conditions like ulcers will benefit from advanced therapeutic surgical techniques.

Call 022 6280 6280 for an appointment with our diabetic foot care specialists.