Chapters authored
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common medical disorders often associated with neurological complications. Peripheral neuropathy is the most common neurological complication from diabetes with a prevalence of 10–26% of newly diagnosed adult diabetics. Diabetic neuropathy is a heterogeneous group of conditions that present with sensory and/or motor and/or autonomic dysfunction and affect different parts of the peripheral nervous system. Diabetic neuropathy might present as a polyneuropathy, mononeuropathy, mononeuropathy multiplex, radiculopathy, and/or plexopathy. Diabetic neuropathies may also be associated with foot ulcers and infections in 5–24% of patients, which translate into five out of 1000 of diabetics ending with an amputation. Therefore, it is essential to screen diabetic patients for early recognition and management of diabetic neuropathies.
Part of the book: Demyelination Disorders
Assessment of Diabetic Foot
Diabetic Foot Complications are the main reason for hospitalization and amputation in people with diabetes. Globally ~435 million people have diabetes, with ~83–148 million of those estimated to develop foot ulcers in their lifetime. It is estimated that 16.8 million YLDs resulted from diabetic foot complications. Once an ulcer has developed, there is an increased risk of wound progression that may lead to amputation (~85% cases). In every 30 seconds, one lower limb amputation in diabetes patients occurs world-wide. The average cost for each amputation is over $70,000. American Podiatric Medical Association says that diabetic foot complications can be prevented by periodical Assessment of foot, which include visual inspection of bare foot; deformities, neurovascular abnormalities of foot and assessment of footwear. Relevant assessment and proactive foot care can reduce the burden of diabetic foot disease which will increase quality of life and reduce health care costs.
Part of the book: Diabetic Foot