Diabetes describes a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar levels to become dangerously high.
What’s worse, early symptoms are often reluctant to rear their ugly heads, leaving many people in the dark.
In some cases, untreated diabetes can progress to diabetic neuropathy and trigger six warning signs. Fortunately, a doctor has revealed what to look out for.
The Good Foot Doctor took to his TikTok channel to outline the red flags of neuropathy.
In the video description, he explained that this uncomfortable health problem is mostly associated with diabetes.
The doctor recommended looking out for these six following signs:
- Burning sensation (especially on the bottom of your feet in the heels, the soles, and the toes)
- Numbness
- Pins and needles
- Tingling sensation
- Cold feet
- Loss of feeling in your feet.
When he was asked about the treatment for this health problem in the comments, The Good Foot Doctor explained that if neuropathy is diabetes related, “then you need to look at your blood sugar levels”.
However, he noted that this nerve damage “is mostly irreversible depending on the cause”.
In a previous interview with Express.co.uk, Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, revealed that up to 50 percent of those with diabetes will develop neuropathic symptoms as the disease progresses.
She explained that diabetic neuropathy may not only strike in your legs and feet but also in your hands and arms.
The doctor shared that the six warning signs tend to be apparent in the hands and feet first, progressing to ankles and wrists.
She continued: “All of this is important because the person may not feel pain, for example, if they burn their foot or develop a blister, and hence do not get a quick reaction to remove the foot from the heat or change their footwear as would be the normal response.
“Diabetics are at high risk of developing foot and leg ulcers. In due course, this can lead to osteomyelitis, gangrene, and sepsis and require limb amputation.
“To prevent this from happening, those with diabetes should have regular foot checkups.”
If you experience any symptoms that could be pointing to diabetic neuropathy, the doctor recommended seeing your GP.
The good news is that patients diagnosed with the blood sugar condition can help minimise their risk of neuropathy through blood sugar control, Dr Lee added.
