By: Hello Doctor
By: Hello Doctor
About 50% of people with diabetes mellitus have some type of diabetic neuropathy, that is, some type of damage to the nerves .
The types of nerves that can be damaged are sensitive, motor or autonomic, (those that interact with the cardiac, gastrointestinal or urinary system to regulate their functions).
It depends on what type of nerve has been damaged, but in general the symptoms can be grouped as follows:
– You can feel your legs asleep, with difficulty moving them, when you walk You feel unstable, you have trouble keeping your balance or you even choose to have extra support with your hands.
– You may feel tingling in your legs, like when you sit in a bad position , you become very sensitive to the touch, your clothes may even bother you or you feel stitches in your legs.
– You feel weak in your legs, you trip easily, every time It is more difficult for you to go up and down stairs and it is even difficult for you to get up.
When thermal sensitivity is damaged, pain or balance can happen that a person has injuries and not
Not realizing it does not have the proper management and treatment, so the wound it can become infected and eventually lead to something we commonly know as diabetic foot .
In order to give proper management it is necessary to know how affected the function of the legs is.
This can be found out if you perform a physical examination and laboratory tests that the doctor may request. Comprehensive management may include the use of pain medications, physical and occupational rehabilitation and, of course, adequate control of glucose (sugar) levels in the blood.
It is important to stay active, exercise, always taking into account the limitations that may exist such as avoiding exercise outdoors in cold climates due to the risk of cold burns, or in very hot climates due to the risk of having a heat shock.
We must take special care with the hygiene of the feet, check them every day looking for or no injury, cut nails, look for infection, athlete’s foot, nail fungus, and wear proper footwear.
Recommended if you have diabetes is to go to an orthopedist to guide you in this regard. Or go to your doctor, who can guide you on what to do to maintain your health.