Diabetes and Foot Neuropathy

Aside form loss of vision and problems with kidney, another important thing that diabetics should be very careful with is foot neuropathy. Foot neuropathy is a kind of nerve damage. The covering of the nerves in the feet are stripped off which makes the feet feel hot and eventually takes away the sensation in the feet. Millions of diabetics' feet are amputated because of ignored care for foot neuropathy.

While it cannot be treated because it is a damage to the nerves that is caused by many factors one of which is diabetes, foot neuropathy can be controlled. Diabetics should always check their feet for callous and blisters. Since neuropathy takes away the sensation in the feet, they might not feel that their feet are developing very thick callous that can be the start of ulcers. These ulcers are very dangerous because they eat the tissues of the body. If the affected body part is not cut, the ulcers might continue on eating the tissues until they reach vital parts of the body.

People with diabetes and foot neuropathy should never walk barefoot. They should take care of their feet not be exposed to objects that might wound them. They may not feel the bump because of the neuropathy so they should always check. Patients should not dip the feet in very hot water because they might not feel it but their feet are already experiencing high degree of burn.

Finally, they should always have their feet checked by a podiatrist, a doctor whose specialty if with the feet and the diseases that are associated with feet. It is possible to have complete set of legs even with this disease. Just like the daily checking and care for the diabetes, foot neuropathy should also be checked and given attention everyday. With this, many patients will not have wounds in feet that can be the start of ulcers that can be the reason for the amputation of the feet.

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By Aarona Bancs