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Diabetes and Caring for Your Nerves
High blood glucose levels over time can harm the bodily nerves. Nerve damage may mean you could lose the feeling in your feet. Pain in your legs, arms, or hands or problems with eating, going to the bathroom, or having sex could be a result of nerve damage.
Damaged nerves can happen over time. Nerve problems may not show at first. Your healthcare provider should check your nerves at least once a year. Included in this exam should be tests to check your sense of feeling and the pulse in your feet.
Your doctor should know about any problems with your feet, legs, hands, or arms. Also, tell the doctor if you have trouble going to the bathroom, eating, having sex, or if you feel dizzy sometimes.
Amputation may be required after having nerve damage in the feet. If you have poor circulation because of blood vessel problems in your legs, the sores on your feet can't heal and might become infected. If the infection isn't treated, it could lead to amputation.
Find out from your doctor if you already have damaged nerves in your feet. If this is the case, it is important to care for your feet well. For prevention of complications from nerve damage, check your feet every day.
Here are some ways to take care of your nerves:
- Keep your blood glucose and blood pressure as close to normal as possible.
- Check your feet every day.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
- If you are a smoker, quit.
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