Wei Laboratories, Inc.
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What is Foot Neuropathy?
Foot neuropathy is caused by damaged, diseased or inflamed peripheral nerves of the foot. Many diabetic patients
suffer from peripheral neuropathy, particularly in the feet. Numbness in the feet is the most common sign of diabetic
foot neuropathy, although tingling, burning, and intense pains are other signs. These symptoms can lead to greater
problems including foot deformities and foot ulcers.
Symptoms
• 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
Causes
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.
Western Medicine Treatment
The first treatment step is to bring blood glucose levels within the normal range to help prevent further nerve damage.
Blood glucose monitoring, meal planning, physical activity, and diabetes medicines or insulin will help control blood
glucose levels. Symptoms may get worse when blood glucose is first brought under control, but over time, maintaining
lower blood glucose levels helps lessen symptoms. Good blood glucose control may also help prevent or delay the
onset of further problems.
People with neuropathy need to take special care of their feet. The nerves to the feet are the longest in the body and are
the ones most often affected by neuropathy. Loss of sensation in the feet means that sores or injuries may not be
noticed and may become ulcerated or infected. Circulation problems also increase the risk of foot ulcers.
More than half of all lower-limb amputations in the United States occur in people with diabetes. Doctors estimate that
nearly half of the amputations caused by neuropathy and poor circulation could have been prevented by careful foot
care.
Follow these steps to take care of your feet:
• Clean your feet daily, using warm—not hot—water and a mild soap. Avoid soaking your feet. Dry them with a soft
towel and dry carefully between your toes.
• Inspect your feet and toes every day for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, calluses, or other problems. Use a
mirror—laying a mirror on the floor works well—or get help from someone else if you cannot see the bottoms of
your feet. Notify your health care provider of any problems.
• Moisturize your feet with lotion, but avoid getting the lotion between your toes.
• After a bath or shower, file corns and calluses gently with a pumice stone.
• Each week or when needed, cut your toenails to the shape of your toes and file the edges with an emery board.
• Always wear shoes or slippers to protect your feet from injuries. Prevent skin irritation by wearing thick, soft,
seamless socks.
• Wear shoes that fit well and allow your toes to move. Break in new shoes gradually by first wearing them for only
an hour at a time.
• Before putting your shoes on, look them over carefully and feel the insides with your hand to make sure they have
no tears, sharp edges, or objects in them that might injure your feet.
• If you need help taking care of your feet, make an appointment to see a foot doctor, also called a podiatrist.
Alternative Medicine
There is a significant progress using alternative medicine in this area.
If you want a referral of an expert alternative medicine practitioner in your
local area, please use our free referral service by calling our toll-free at
1-888-919-1188, or e-mail us to wei@weilab.com, or click the button
at the right to have us contact you.
Information gathered from nih.gov
Foot neuropathy is caused by damaged, diseased or inflamed peripheral nerves of the foot. Many diabetic patients
suffer from peripheral neuropathy, particularly in the feet. Numbness in the feet is the most common sign of diabetic
foot neuropathy, although tingling, burning, and intense pains are other signs. These symptoms can lead to greater
problems including foot deformities and foot ulcers.
Symptoms
• 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
Causes
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.
Western Medicine Treatment
The first treatment step is to bring blood glucose levels within the normal range to help prevent further nerve damage.
Blood glucose monitoring, meal planning, physical activity, and diabetes medicines or insulin will help control blood
glucose levels. Symptoms may get worse when blood glucose is first brought under control, but over time, maintaining
lower blood glucose levels helps lessen symptoms. Good blood glucose control may also help prevent or delay the
onset of further problems.
People with neuropathy need to take special care of their feet. The nerves to the feet are the longest in the body and are
the ones most often affected by neuropathy. Loss of sensation in the feet means that sores or injuries may not be
noticed and may become ulcerated or infected. Circulation problems also increase the risk of foot ulcers.
More than half of all lower-limb amputations in the United States occur in people with diabetes. Doctors estimate that
nearly half of the amputations caused by neuropathy and poor circulation could have been prevented by careful foot
care.
Follow these steps to take care of your feet:
• Clean your feet daily, using warm—not hot—water and a mild soap. Avoid soaking your feet. Dry them with a soft
towel and dry carefully between your toes.
• Inspect your feet and toes every day for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, calluses, or other problems. Use a
mirror—laying a mirror on the floor works well—or get help from someone else if you cannot see the bottoms of
your feet. Notify your health care provider of any problems.
• Moisturize your feet with lotion, but avoid getting the lotion between your toes.
• After a bath or shower, file corns and calluses gently with a pumice stone.
• Each week or when needed, cut your toenails to the shape of your toes and file the edges with an emery board.
• Always wear shoes or slippers to protect your feet from injuries. Prevent skin irritation by wearing thick, soft,
seamless socks.
• Wear shoes that fit well and allow your toes to move. Break in new shoes gradually by first wearing them for only
an hour at a time.
• Before putting your shoes on, look them over carefully and feel the insides with your hand to make sure they have
no tears, sharp edges, or objects in them that might injure your feet.
• If you need help taking care of your feet, make an appointment to see a foot doctor, also called a podiatrist.
Alternative Medicine
There is a significant progress using alternative medicine in this area.
If you want a referral of an expert alternative medicine practitioner in your
local area, please use our free referral service by calling our toll-free at
1-888-919-1188, or e-mail us to wei@weilab.com, or click the button
at the right to have us contact you.
Information gathered from nih.gov
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