Neuropathy is another name for nerve disease associated with diabetes.
The end result of neuropathy, if not treated, is amputation of the feet. This is a major incentive to monitor and keep proper control of one's blood glucose levels, as it is those who have poor control who are most at risk.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetics are equally at risk of neuropathy, which usually appears after 10 years of high and uncontrolled blood sugar.
Taller people are more susceptible to the disease as they have longer nerve fibres and drinking (alcohol) can make things worse.
Nerve disease is a gradual process and can be missed in the early stages. One of the first obvious signs of neuropathy is a loss of feeling in the feet.
Once sensation begins to be lost, it is very important that you make a point of making a visual check of your feet on a daily basis. This is to check for further damage, particularly when almost all sensation is lost.
In fact the most common problem is foot ulcers. In non diabetics, any pressure on the sole of the foot will show itself with pain. Diabetic neuropathy means that this pain is not felt by the sufferer, and after some time, the skin begins to harden in the area being pressurised. Over time this turns into a callus, which eventually forms an ulcer.
When there is no feeling in the feet, the ulcer can get bigger and bigger. Unless the feet are inspected regularly and treated, the ulcer will spread until it becomes inoperable, resulting in amputation of the feet.
By following certain rules you can prevent neuropathy:
- Ensure that your blood sugar levels are stable. Take action to get them under control.
- Seek treatment if you suffer from hypertension
- Move. Exercising is very important for general wellbeing, but in particular it helps to reduce cholesterol, which is responsible, in part, to blocking the arteries. Exercise also promotes new growth of blood vessels.
- Smoking. In addition to lung cancer, smoking is a major cause of another disease that affects the feet, Peripheral Arterial Disease. As a diabetic smoker, you increase your chances of losing your feet by smoking.
The end result of neuropathy, if not treated, is amputation of the feet. This is a major incentive to monitor and keep proper control of one's blood glucose levels, as it is those who have poor control who are most at risk.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetics are equally at risk of neuropathy, which usually appears after 10 years of high and uncontrolled blood sugar.
Taller people are more susceptible to the disease as they have longer nerve fibres and drinking (alcohol) can make things worse.
Nerve disease is a gradual process and can be missed in the early stages. One of the first obvious signs of neuropathy is a loss of feeling in the feet.
Once sensation begins to be lost, it is very important that you make a point of making a visual check of your feet on a daily basis. This is to check for further damage, particularly when almost all sensation is lost.
In fact the most common problem is foot ulcers. In non diabetics, any pressure on the sole of the foot will show itself with pain. Diabetic neuropathy means that this pain is not felt by the sufferer, and after some time, the skin begins to harden in the area being pressurised. Over time this turns into a callus, which eventually forms an ulcer.
When there is no feeling in the feet, the ulcer can get bigger and bigger. Unless the feet are inspected regularly and treated, the ulcer will spread until it becomes inoperable, resulting in amputation of the feet.
By following certain rules you can prevent neuropathy:
- Ensure that your blood sugar levels are stable. Take action to get them under control.
- Seek treatment if you suffer from hypertension
- Move. Exercising is very important for general wellbeing, but in particular it helps to reduce cholesterol, which is responsible, in part, to blocking the arteries. Exercise also promotes new growth of blood vessels.
- Smoking. In addition to lung cancer, smoking is a major cause of another disease that affects the feet, Peripheral Arterial Disease. As a diabetic smoker, you increase your chances of losing your feet by smoking.
About the Author:
If you do smoke, think about taking up an interest. Toby, the writer of this article and a type 2 diabetic, smoked and suffered from hypertension. To ease his stress, he learnt up the Martin Backpacker guitar which he finds very effective at tackling stress. His Martin Backpacker guitar sounds great and is easy to transport.
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