A common complication of diabetes is neuropathy, marked by a constant pain in the legs or feet. To compensate for the pain people with diabetic neuropathy walk differently.
Researchers know diabetics also fall more often than most people.
At the University of Calgary, scientists are asking the question ‘if we treat the foot pain, will the walking return to normal, and will people fall less often?'.
The say diabetic leg and foot pain is often overlooked
"Sometimes this is not considered because we are busy trying to control the blood sugars, making sure patients don't go blind or they don't develop kidney disease," says Dr. Cory Toth. "Diabetic nerve pain can get neglected."
Neuropathy is the most common cause of chronic leg pain.
Falls are the sixth most common cause of death in Canada and the leading cause of death for people over 85-years-old.
