UK researchers discovered that loss of sensation in the feet among diabetes patients may be linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. It may even be a predictor of stroke or heart attack. The findings are published in the leading cardiovascular journal in the UK, Heart.
Loss of sensation in the feet, known as peripheral neuropathy, occurs when diabetics fail to control blood sugar levels, which can cause damage to the blood vessels and nerves, leading to poor blood circulation. This condition can further lead to development of foot ulcers and, in the worst case, foot or leg amputation.
The researchers used information taken from over 13,000 patients with type 2 diabetes in England. According to Jack Brownrigg, a PhD student at St. George’s University of London and member of the research team, “While the risk of cardiovascular disease is known to be higher in patients with diabetes, predicting which patients may be at greatest risk is often difficult. We looked at data on individuals with no history of cardiovascular disease and found that those with peripheral neuropathy were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.”
The findings indicate that doctors identifying peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients may also identify a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases such as stroke or heart attack.
Source: University of St George’s London. (2014, August 6). Loss of sensation in the feet of diabetes patients linked to cardiovascular disease, stroke. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 7, 2014 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140806094832.htm
Tags: diabetes and foot sensation, Diabetes News, diabetes patients, heart attack risk, heart disease, type 2 diabetes