Dr. Pond, I thought that you could tell my grandson about the complication that affects the feet. Yes, that would be diabetic neuropathy which is a nerve disease that is caused by diabetes. The nerves carry all sensation from the body to the brain and carry all information from the brain to the muscles.
Nerve damage has far-reaching implications.
Diffuse neuropathy is the most common. However, research is being conducted to understand how diabetes affects the nerves and to find better treatments. One factor that is found to contribute to diabetic neuropathy is high blood glucose levels. High levels can cause chemical changes in the nerves that prevent the nerves from transmitting signals to different parts of the body. It also damages blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the nerves.