Patients with diabetic neuropathy often have dry skin, she said, so make sure they’re moisturizing. “Look at the condition of their shoes,” she added, “which will tell you how they walk.”
Ill-fitting shoes are a common cause of foot ulcers, said Ms. Novak, who noted that some patients refuse to wear unattractive diabetic shoes and prefer to wear more fashionable – and dangerous – tight-fitting shoes.
Treatment options
Glycemic control makes a difference, especially for patients with type 1, as does control of risk factors, such as obesity. But diabetic neuropathy cannot be reversed.
Pain can be managed with a range of medications. “We can’t cure the neuropathy, we can at least help patients with the symptoms so that they can have a good night’s sleep,” she said.
Ms. Novak also suggested passing on the following snippets of advice to patients:
- Do not walk barefoot.
- Check your feet every day.
- Moisturize your skin, and always dry thoroughly between your toes.
- Seek medical attention if your nails cut into your skin or you develop a callus or areas of redness/warmth.
Global Academy and this news organization are owned by the same parent company. Ms. Novak reported relationships with Nova Nordisk, Sanofi, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.