At Synergy Foot and Ankle, we take pride in our limb preservation program, keeping our patients on their feet and living happy, healthy lives. Diabetic limb preservation can take many forms, and we’re committed to helping you avoid limb loss and enjoy your fullest quality of life.
One of the most commonly-seen complications that can be caused by diabetes is a condition known as peripheral neuropathy. This condition can impact nerves anywhere in the body, but when diabetes is in play, the likelihood of peripheral neuropathy developing in the feet and ankles increases significantly.
When your blood sugar levels are elevated for too long, it can cause the tissues that make up your nerve fibers to degrade and die off. This is called neuropathy, and its early stages don’t involve a lack of feeling...instead, as your nerves are dying off, they send an abundance of signals to the brain, which results in tingling or burning sensations.
Eventually, the feeling can be lost completely in part or all of the feet, at which point the patient is at high risk for injuries or problems that may go unnoticed. Diabetics must frequently check their feet for cuts and injuries that weren’t noticed due to feeling loss, as these issues can develop serious infections down the line.
