Nerves
(Neuropathy) and Feet Diabetes
can cause nerve damage, called neuropathy. There are different types of neuropathy
but the most common in diabetics is sensory neuropathy. Sensory nerves carry messages
of touch, pain, temperature and other sensations from the skin, bones and muscles
to the brain. Damage to these nerves may lead to a loss of feeling in the feet.
The main danger here is that you may not feel any pain, heat or cold in your feet.
Thus a sore or cut on your foot could get worse and lead to an infection because
you don't know it is there. How
does diabetes cause sensory neuropathy? The
exact way in which diabetes damages the nerves is still not known. One possibility
is that it is a result of damage to small blood vessels, which prevent essential
nutrients reaching the nerves. The nerve fibres then become damaged or disappear
altogether. Good blood glucose control can reduce the risk of neuropathy developing,
as well as good foot care and help with detection of problems. Next
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