Living with Diabetes | 29
NERVE DAMAGE have to be amputated (removed).
also called diabetic neuropathy People who have neuropathy may
continue walking on a foot that
Diabetic neuropathy makes it hard has damaged joints or bones. This
for your nerves to send messages can lead to a condition called
to the brain and other parts of the Charcot foot that causes swelling
body. If you have neuropathy, you and instability in the injured foot.
may lose feeling in parts of your It can also cause the foot to become
body or have painful, tingling or deformed. However, this problem
burning feelings. can often be avoided.
Neuropathy most often affects If you have diabetes, check your
the feet and legs, but it may also feet every day. If you see swelling
affect the fi ngers and hands. If or redness and feel warmth in your
you have neuropathy, you may foot, see your doctor immediately.
not be able to feel a sore on your These can be signs of Charcot foot.
foot. The sore can become infected Your doctor should also check your
and, in serious cases, the foot may feet frequently.
warning signs of nerve damage
Call your doctor if you have:
Numbness, tingling Sharp pain that is Cuts, sores or blisters Muscle weakness and Erectile dysfunction in
or burning feelings worse at night on your feet that don’t diffi culty walking men (problems getting
in your fi ngers, toes, hurt as much as you or keeping an erection)
hands or feet would expect, and that and vaginal dryness
heal very slowly in women
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