What are symptoms of foot problems with type 2 diabetes?

jill k !
The connective tissue in the hands and around joints can be affected by diabetes, especially after many years of the disease. In the hands and feet there is a layer of collagen (fascia) under the skin. Thickening of this fascia in the hands leads to a condition called Dupuytren鈥檚 contractures, causing an inability to straighten 铿?n颅gers, and also a condition called trigger 铿?nger. When the condition gets severe, surgery may be necessary. Dupuytren鈥檚 contractures occur in the absence of diabe颅tes, but it is about 铿?ve times as common in people with diabetes. An in铿?ammation of the fascia in the foot can lead to a condition called plantar fasciitis, causing heel pain severe enough to prevent walking. Treatment includes stretching exercises and a night splint, orthotics, physical therapy, and nonsteroidal anti-in铿?ammatory drugs. If these do not work, steroid injections can be tried.
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Home : Diabetes A-Z List of Topics and Titles : Diabetic Neuropathies: The Nerve Damage of Diabetes

Diabetic Neuropathies: The Nerve Damage of Diabetes
On this page:

What are diabetic neuropathies?
What causes diabetic neuropathies?
What are the symptoms of diabetic neuropathies?
What are the types of diabetic neuropathy?
Neuropathy Affects Nerves Throughout the Body
What is peripheral neuropathy?
What is autonomic neuropathy?
What is proximal neuropathy?
What is focal neuropathy?
How can I prevent diabetic neuropathies?
How are diabetic neuropathies diagnosed?
How are diabetic neuropathies treated?
Points to Remember
Hope through Research
For More Information
What are diabetic neuropathies?
Diabetic neuropathies are a family of nerve disorders caused by diabetes. People with diabetes can, over time, develop nerve damage throughout the body. Some people with nerve damage have no symptoms. Others may have symptoms such as pain, tingling, or numbness鈥攍oss of feeling鈥攊n the hands, arms, feet, and legs. Nerve problems can occur in every organ system, including the digestive tract, heart, and sex organs.

About 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy. People with diabetes can develop nerve problems at any time, but risk rises with age and longer duration of diabetes. The highest rates of neuropathy are among people who have had diabetes for at least 25 years. Diabetic neuropathies also appear to be more common in people who have problems controlling their blood glucose, also called blood sugar, as well as those with high levels of blood fat and blood pressure and those who are overweight.

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What causes diabetic neuropathies?
The causes are probably different for different types of diabetic neuropathy. Researchers are studying how prolonged exposure to high blood glucose causes nerve damage. Nerve damage is likely due to a combination of factors:

metabolic factors, such as high blood glucose, long duration of diabetes, abnormal blood fat levels, and possibly low levels of insulin
neurovascular factors, leading to damage to the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to nerves
autoimmune factors that cause inflammation in nerves
mechanical injury to nerves, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
inherited traits that increase susceptibility to nerve disease
lifestyle factors, such as smoking or alcohol use


What are the symptoms of diabetic neuropathies?
Symptoms depend on the type of neuropathy and which nerves are affected. Some people with nerve damage have no symptoms at all. For others, the first symptom is often numbness, tingling, or pain in the feet. Symptoms are often minor at first, and because most nerve damage occurs over several years, mild cases may go unnoticed for a long time. Symptoms can involve the sensory, motor, and autonomic鈥攐r involuntary鈥攏ervous systems. In some people, mainly those with focal neuropathy, the onset of pain may be sudden and severe.

Symptoms of nerve damage may include

numbness, tingling, or pain in the toes, feet, legs, hands, arms, and fingers
wasting of the muscles of the feet or hands
indigestion, nausea, or vomiting
diarrhea or constipation
dizziness or faintness due to a drop in blood pressure after standing or sitting up
problems with urination
erectile dysfunction in men or vaginal dryness in women
weakness
Symptoms that are not due to neuropathy, but often accompany it, include weight loss and depression.

Good luck. Keep your sugar levels normal as you can!!

peripheral neuropathy.

you can get limited feeling in your feet, or tingling sensation. You will notice your feet get really cold despite having socks on. and you can run the risk of damaging your feet without knowing. i once nursed a patient that had a nail in his foot for 5 days before he realized. and wounds on your feet may take a long time to heal. Foot care is so so so important!

You have a higher risk of experiencing these symptoms if your diabetes is UN-MANAGED or managed POORLY.

Look after yourself, follow your doctors orders and you should be just fine.

your feet can go numb get sores on your feet and they dont heal for a long time your feet can go really red they can swell if you cut your foot and dont get it treated you can lose your feet your in a higher risk.