How Diabetic Neuropathy Affects Your Feet

Diabetic neuropathy is a real concern for the nearly 12% of the American public living with type 2 diabetes. This condition causes damage to your nerves, leading to a host of other problems. But what does this have to do with your feet, and why are podiatrists concerned about it? 

At Southwest Foot & Ankle in Scottsdale, Arizona, we take diabetic neuropathy and its possible side effects seriously. Our providers, Petrina C. Lewis, DPM, FACFAS, and Mark T. Lewis, DPM, FACFAS, also feel it’s helpful to provide our patients with information about how the condition works. 

Let us give you the 411 on diabetic neuropathy and how it affects your feet. 

Diabetic neuropathy and podiatry 

Diabetic neuropathy occurs in almost half of all people living with diabetes. It reduces blood flow in your body, leading to nerve damage. Once your nerves become damaged, it’s more difficult to feel sensations (like touch or temperature) in that part of your body. Also, you may experience tingling or pain. 

As podiatrists, we worry about diabetic neuropathy. Your feet and legs are the most commonly impacted parts of your body. This is because they’re farthest away from the center of your body and filled with small arteries that are more easily affected. Also, many people don’t pay as much attention to their feet and legs, causing them not to notice issues. 

When you live with diabetes, you should be very aware of your feet. If you notice tingling, numbness, or pain that lingers, you might be dealing with neuropathy. Sadly, though, there are even more problems that can go along with this issue.

How diabetic neuropathy affects your feet

As we stated previously, diabetic neuropathy can make it harder to feel. This means it’s more likely that you might have an injury on your foot and not realize it. When you cut your foot, you know because of the pain you feel. If you experience nerve damage, you might not feel it at all.

What’s worse, diabetic neuropathy makes it harder for the damaged area to heal. That means you might have a cut that doesn’t close up right away, especially if you don’t notice it and clean and care for it properly. You may experience issues with diabetic ulcers, which can damage the tissue of your foot, leading to, worst case scenario, amputation. 

It’s also common to experience weakness in your feet, burning sensations, cramps, or extreme sensitivity. All of these issues can cause difficulty for your feet, which, as you know, handle a lot of your day-to-day activities, even if it’s just walking from one place to another.

What you can do about diabetic neuropathy

There are plenty of ways you can minimize your risk of diabetic neuropathy, including quitting smoking, losing weight, and managing your blood sugar levels. But if you already have this condition, you can keep these symptoms from worsening by keeping yourself as healthy as possible. 

In addition, paying special attention to your feet is very important. We recommend checking them daily for cuts or scrapes and getting regular checkups from your podiatrist. You should also report any changes in sensation, pain, or appearance in your feet to your provider so they can address your issues. 

Living with diabetic neuropathy 

Whether you have diabetic neuropathy or you’re hoping to avoid it, regular appointments with a podiatrist are extremely helpful. We can give you more information on how diabetic neuropathy affects your feet and how you can prevent problems down the line.

Make an appointment at Southwest Foot & Ankle today. Call our office at 480-900-7399 or schedule a visit online. We look forward to meeting you and arming you with the best information and care available!