January 5, 2004
Complications
Question from Kansas City, Missouri, USA:
My dad was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, although we believe he has had for at least five years. He has been experiencing tingling, burning, and swelling of his feet and ankles. Now he has been complaining that the skin on his abdomen is tender to the touch. Even his shirts hurt it. He says there is no internal pain, just that the skin is very tender. Is this related to his diabetes, and what does that mean if it is?
Answer:
The pain he describes could be the result of diabetic neuropathic pain. Good blood sugar control, if it is not present, will allow for improvement in the pain. It appears the good glucose control will raise the threshold for this type of neuropathic pain. He needs to work with his physician to make sure his sugars are in good shape.
JTL
