Nerve pain and nerve damage can be a serious problem if you have diabetes, which the American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates applies to about 6 out of 10 nearly 21 million Americans with the disease. Nerve pain or numbness can happen in anywhere in your body - although it’s most common in your feet if you're over 40.

Nearly one in three people over age 40 with diabetes have lost some feeling in their feet, says the ADA. Los Angeles foot pain, or numbness may sound like a minor problem, but it can actually be a lot worse. People with diabetes are 10 times more likely to need a toe, foot, or lower leg amputated, due to excessive nerve damage.

Peripheral neuropathy is common in diabetics, and occurs when the peripheral nerves in your body are damaged. Peripheral nerves are in your feet, legs, and hands, because they are at the outermost reaches – periphery – of your body. Actually, the nerves that run all the way down to your feet are the longest in your body, and are often the first to be affected by diabetes. This is why if you have diabetes, it is important to have a qualified Los Angeles podiatrist, also known as a podiatric physician, as an integral part of the treatment team. Experts say that regular foot screenings (at least once a year) are key to preventing amputation and other conditions associated with diabetic nerve damage.

For example, while most people may feel weak or shaky when their blood sugar levels are low, diabetics with various degrees of neuropathy have a harder time feeling these sensations. Nerve damages affect your ability to determine pain as well, so they are unable to determine chest pain, which could be the telling sign that they are experiencing a heart attack.

Modern medicine still does not know for sure what causes nerve pain, but keeping a close watch on your blood sugar levels is the very first step in keeping nerves healthy. Also, it is important to be open and talk with your physician at the first sign of unusual nerve pain, numbness, or sensation -- no matter where they may happen in your body. Early recognition is critical, says Los Angeles podiatry facilities across the southland. It could help prevent the need for surgical intervention, including Los Angeles foot surgery, ankle surgery, diabetic ulcer surgery, amputation, and so on.

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