collapseTingling, burning or numbness in your feet? It may be nerve damage from diabetes — expert podiatry care at Feet for Life can help.
Peripheral Neuropathy is a nerve condition that affects the arms, hands, legs, and feet. The most common form of peripheral neuropathy is due to diabetes. Please call us 314-207-7280 to request a consultation about this treatable condition.
About Peripheral Neuropathy
When Your Feet Don’t Feel “Right”
- Do your feet feel numb, or like you’re walking on cotton?
- Have you noticed sharp, shooting pains, burning or tingling in your toes or soles?
- Does your shoe feel uncomfortable even when nothing is obvious?
- Maybe you’ve found a cut or blister and didn’t even feel it — or it’s slow to heal?
These are common warning signs of diabetic nerve damage (neuropathy). Early attention matters — what seems minor can quickly become serious.
What Is Diabetic Neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy is often experienced as a feeling of numbness and tingling in the feet.
Proper foot care is essential to maintain foot health; check daily for blisters, cuts, cracked skin, and ingrown toenails.
The loss of sensitivity associated with this condition can affect balance can be reduced by wearing thin-soled, yet durable, shoes that protect the feet while allowing more sensation.
How We Diagnose & Monitor Nerve Damage
At Feet for Life, we use a thorough approach:
- Foot exam & sensory testing: Monofilament & vibration checks to assess nerve function.
- Vascular assessment: Circulation is key in diabetes-related foot health.
- Structural & pressure-mapping analysis: To identify areas at high risk of ulcer or deformity.
- Patient history review: Duration of diabetes, A1C levels, other complications, footwear, activity levels.
- Education & proactive care plan: Because early detection changes outcomes.
Advanced & Surgical Solutions (When Needed)
If neuropathy has led to ulcers, deformities or severe nerve pain, we offer advanced care:
- Off-loading devices and casts for foot ulcers.
- Minimally invasive foot procedures to correct structural issues and reduce risk of further injury.
- Collaborative care with your endocrinologist, vascular specialist, and wound-care team — we integrate for the best outcomes.
For Patients with Diabetes: Your Daily Foot Care Checklist
- Inspect feet every day: look for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, changes in skin color.
- Wash feet with warm (not hot) water, use mild soap, dry thoroughly especially between toes.
- Moisturize the tops and soles—but avoid between toes.
- Wear properly fitting shoes & socks; never barefoot. Check inside your shoes before putting them on.
- Report any foot sores, wounds, or “different” sensations to your podiatrist immediately.
- Keep your diabetes care on track: A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol, and stop smoking.
Do Not Wait Until More Damage Is Done
Foot nerve damage is silent — you might feel nothing until major damage occurs. In fact, many people with diabetic neuropathy have no symptoms early.
Without proactive care, what begins as a small blister can turn into a foot ulcer, infection, or even amputation.
Take action now: schedule your comprehensive foot exam with us.
Additional Information
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
People with diabetes have an abnormal elevation of their blood sugar, and lack adequate insulin to metabolize the blood sugar. As a consequence, the blood glucose (sugar) abnormally enters certain nerve tissue and damages the nerve. This can occur in any type of diabetes. It does not matter if the patient is on insulin, is taking pills, or is diet controlled. The nerve damage that occurs is considered to be permanent.
As the nerve damage occurs, the protective sensations are affected. These include a person’s ability to determine the difference between sharp and dull, hot and cold, pressure differences, and vibration. These senses become dulled and/or altered. The process begins as a burning sensation in the toes and progresses up the foot in a “stocking distribution”. As the condition progresses, the feet become more and more numb. Some people will feel as though a pair of socks on their feet, when in fact they do not. Other patients will describe the feeling of walking on cotton, or a water-filled cushion. Some patients complain of their feet burn at night, making it difficult to sleep. The feet may also feel like they are cold, however, to the touch, they have normal skin temperature. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is not reversible. The progression of the condition can be slowed or halted by maintaining normal blood glucose levels.
As the patient develops diabetic neuropathy, they have a greater risk of developing skin ulcerations and infections. Areas of corns and callouses on the feet represent areas of excessive friction or pressure. These areas, if not properly cared for by a foot specialist, will often break down and cause ulcerations. Ulcerations and infection can form under the calloused area. These calloused areas may not be painful. As a result, they can progress to ulceration without being noticed.
Ingrown toenails can progress to severe infections in people with neuropathy. Simple things like trimming the toenails present a risk to these patients because they may accidentally cut the skin and not feel it. People with neuropathy must be very cautious and inspect their feet daily. They should not soak their feet in hot water or use heating pads to warm their feet. This can result in accidental burns to the skin. Barefoot walking should be avoided because of the risk of stepping on something sharp and not being aware of it. The inside of the shoes should be inspected before putting the shoes on to insure that no foreign object is inside the shoe.
Our office is equipped with a machine called the Doppler. This exam measures the vascular blood flow in the foot and ankle through a non-invasive procedure. Like a sonogram, a gel is spread over the ankle and foot, and the doctor can assess the blood flow by computer readout. The test is quick, easy, and accurate.
Alcoholic neuropathy is caused by the prolonged use of alcoholic beverages. Ethanol, the alcoholic component of these beverages, is toxic to nerve tissue. Over time, the nerves in the feet and hands can become damaged resulting in the same loss of sensation as that seen in diabetic neuropathy. The damage to these nerves is permanent. A person with this condition is at the same risk, and should take the same precautions as people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy can also be caused by exposure to toxins such as pesticides and heavy metals.
