Peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy can sometimes cause other medical problems, such as foot ulcers andheart rhythm changes, and blood circulation problems.
These complications vary depending on the underlying cause of the condition.
A diabetic foot ulcer is an open wound or sore on the skinthat's slow to heal. These are common in people with diabetic polyneuropathy.
If you have numb feet, it's easy to cut your foot by stepping on something sharp.
An ulcer can also occur if you unknowingly develop a blister caused bybadly fitting shoes. If you don't feel any pain, you may continue walking without protecting the blister. If the cut or blister gets worse, it may develop into an ulcer.
High blood sugar can damage your blood vessels, causing the blood supply to your feet to become restricted. A reduced blood supply to the skin on your feet means it receives a lower number of infection-fighting cells, which can mean wounds take longer to heal and can lead to gangrene.
If you do develop a wound infection in one of your feet as a result of peripheral neuropathy, there's a risk this couldlead to Gangrene (death of part of the skin or underlying tissues).
If gangrene does develop, you may need surgery to remove the damaged tissue (known as debridement) and antibiotics to treat any underlying infection. In severe cases your toe or foot may need to be amputated.
If you have diabetes, you should take extra care of your feet. Get your feet checked regularly by a podiatrist (a medical professional, also known as a chiropodist, who specialises in foot care).
taking care of your feet if you have diabetes
Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is another potentially serious problem that's common in people with diabetic polyneuropathy.
CAN occurs when damage to the peripheral nerves disrupts the automatic functions that control your blood circulation and heartbeat.
The two main noticeable symptoms of CAN are:
You may be able to control the symptoms of orthostatic hypotension by using a number of self care techniques, such as:
In some cases, medication may be required to treat orthostatic hypotension.
Two widely used medications are:
A more serious concern with CAN is that your heart may suddenly develop an abnormal pattern of beating (arrhythmia), which could lead to a cardiac arrest,where your heart stops beating altogether.
To prevent this, you may be prescribed medication to help regulate the beating of your heart, such as flecainide, beta-blockers or amiodarone.
If you have CAN, you'll probably need to have regular check-ups so your heart function can be monitored.
Read about peripheral neuropathy, a term for a group of conditions in which the peripheral nervous system is damaged.
The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy vary according to the type of peripheral neuropathy you have. They may develop quickly or slowly
Read about the causes of peripheral neuropathy. In the UK, the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes.
Read about how peripheral neuropathy is diagnosed. A number of tests can be used to diagnose peripheral neuropathy and any underlying cause.
Read about treatments for peripheral neuropathy, which may include treating any underlying cause as well as any symptoms you're experiencing.
Read about complications of peripheral neuropathy including foot ulcers, gangrene and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN)