Diabetic neuropathy is not one type but three different types affecting different types of nerves, and understanding the differences is essential to understanding why diabetic foot problems are so complex.
1. Sensory Neuropathy (Most Dangerous):
Affects sensory nerves leading to loss of pain, heat, and pressure sensation. The patient walks on a nail or pebble without feeling it. Wears tight shoes causing an ulcer without pain. This is the main cause of most diabetic foot ulcers.
2. Motor Neuropathy:
Affects nerves controlling foot muscles. Result: muscle atrophy and foot deformity — claw toes, prominent metatarsal heads, flattened arch. These deformities create new abnormal pressure points.
3. Autonomic Neuropathy:
Affects nerves controlling sweating and blood flow. Result: very dry and fragile skin prone to cracking, and altered blood distribution in the foot. Dryness makes skin susceptible to cracking and infection.
At BEIT TARIQ Center, we examine all three types using specialized diagnostic tools and treat each type with a different approach.