Diabetics are Losing Feeling in Their Feet! Why?
According to the American Diabetes Association, about 15.7 million people (5.9 percent of the United States population) have diabetes. Nervous system damage (also called neuropathy) affects about 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes and is a major complication that may cause diabetics to lose feeling in their feet or hands. Foot problems are a big risk in diabetics. Diabetics must constantly monitor their feet or face severe consequences, including amputation.Dr’s. RESPONSE: Diabetics lose feeling in their feet. This is called diabetic sensory neuropathy. Grossly simplified, the nerves do not conduct sensations as well as they can. This is due to a variety of factors, but commonly a higher level of sugar in the blood stream diminishes the nerve action potential. Direct metabolic damage then occurs to the nerves, which results in neuropathy. There are three types of neuropathies a diabetic can have. Sensory, motor, and autonomic neuropathies are all possible. Sensory neuropathy, the
