Diabetes can cause two problems that can potentially affect the feet: Diabetic neuropathy and Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Diabetic neuropathy is usually a form of tarsal tunnel syndrome and occurs when nerves in your legs and feet become swollen as a result of the diabetes.  This can prevent you from feeling heat, cold, or pain. The problem with diabetic neuropathy is that a cut or sore on the foot may go unnoticed and the cut may eventually become infected. This condition is also a main cause of foot ulcers.

Additionally, peripheral vascular disease also affects blood flow in the body. Poor blood flow will cause sores and cuts to take longer to heal. Infections that don’t heal do to poor blood flow can potentially cause ulcers or gangrene.  Many people assume they have poor circulation when they have cold feet and instead, it is usually a nerve problem that has decreasd the ability of the foot to control it's own thermostat.

One of the most common problems with the diagnosis of Diabetic Neuropathy is that the diagnosis sticks with the person and nobody contines to try to figure out why the nerves are dysfunctional or whether this might be a nerve compression issue.  Your typical health care professional will then talk to you about loss of sensation, offer you medication for pain and that is it.  Nothing further is asked or studied and the nerve condition worsens. 

If you have diabetes, contact Dr. DiNucci if you have any of the following symptoms on your feet: changes in skin color, corns or calluses, open sores that are slow to heal, unusual and persistent odor, or changes in skin temperature. He will do a thorough examination of your feet to help treat these problematic conditions.