The Pain of Diabetes
March 23, 2008
Diabetes is one of the most common reasons people seek relief for painful feet. In diabetes, four types of problems may arise in the feet as part of the disease process.
Nerve Problems due to Diabetes
The most common contributor to foot pain in diabetes is a nerve problem called Peripheral Neuropathy . This is where the nerves are directly affected by the disease process. There are basically three types of peripheral neuropathy: sensory neuropathy, motor neuropathy, and autonomic neuropathy. Read more
Diabetes and the Foot
March 22, 2008
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects the lives of about 16 million people in the United States , 5.4 million of whom are unaware that they even have the disease. Every day, 2,200 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed, and an estimated 780,000 new cases are identified each year. The disease is marked by the inability to manufacture or properly use insulin, and impairs the body’s ability to convert sugars, starches, and other foods into energy. The long-term effects of elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) are damage to the eyes, heart, feet , kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels. Read more