For the more than 38 million Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage, is one of the most common complications. In fact, peripheral neuropathy affects more than half of people with diabetes, and, once it takes hold, it can lead to cascade of serious health issues, up to and including amputation.
As our name suggests — World Medical Group dba Neuropathy & Pain Centers of Texas — our experienced and extensive team of specialists is well versed in the world of peripheral neuropathy, which is at the heart of our diabetes care.
Since November is National Diabetes Month, we thought it would be a good idea to discuss peripheral neuropathy and its early warning signs.
Let’s first review how diabetes can affect your peripheral nerves. In brief, when you have diabetes, the levels of glucose in your blood can be abnormally high, thanks to a lack of insulin and/or insulin resistance.
These higher-than-normal blood sugar levels can do no small amount of damage to your peripheral nervous system, which is the vast network of nerves outside your central nervous system (CNS).
This nerve damage tends to occur in delicate nerves, such as those involved with your vision, as well as peripheral nerves that are located far from your CNS, such as those in your upper and lower extremities (arms, hands, legs, and feet).
The reason why peripheral neuropathy is so concerning is that you might not sense any damage because you’ve lost sensation. Also, many people with diabetes have compromised circulation, especially in their legs and feet. So, any small wound can quickly become a large problem if the wound doesn’t heal and infection sets in.
Now, let’s walk this discussion back in a more productive direction — preventing further nerve damage and diabetic foot ulcers by staying one step ahead of peripheral neuropathy.
The early signs of peripheral neuropathy include:
Far and away, the most common symptom of peripheral neuropathy is numbness and tingling in your feet (and, less often, in your hands). When your peripheral sensory nerves are damaged by high blood sugar levels, they can malfunction; the result is often numbness and tingling.
A more unfortunate side effect of peripheral neuropathy is pain that’s often described as shooting, stabbing, or burning.
Many people with peripheral neuropathy complain of cold feet and toes.
The nerve damage can also affect your muscles, and you might experience weakness in your lower limbs. For example, your foot might drop out when you walk, or you might become less coordinated when you move.
Bear in mind that diabetes-related peripheral neuropathy is progressive, so the earlier we can intervene, the better your outcome. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, we want you to come see us as soon as possible.
With early-stage peripheral neuropathy, we may be able to reverse some nerve damage. Even if the nerve damage is irreversible, we can slow or halt the progression of the neuropathy, saving you from some serious complications down the road.
For expert diagnosis and treatment of peripheral neuropathy, please call or message one of our offices in Waco, Arlington, Wichita Falls, or Fort Worth, Texas, today to schedule a consultation.
