Diabetic Nerve Damage And Height

If you have diabetes, it may be better to be short than tall
Why? Well, it has to do with those pseky foot and leg ulcers
that can cause anthing from minor inconvenience to amputation
When ulcers become series, it’s becaue they have become
infected, perhaps even leading to gangrene–which is the major
reason for amputation
In the general population, a simple cut or other open wound
isn’t usually a problem, because it causes some degree of pain
that alerts the person to its presence and allows him or her to
seek treatment
Diabetics, however, are prone to nerve damage, which can mean
they have ulcers on feet or legs and aren’t even aware of them
until they have become serious problems
That’s where the height difference comes in According to a
study by the National Taiwan University Hospital, reported in
the Canadian Medical Association Journal, taller diabetics are
more likjely to need amputation than those who are shorter
The reason? The nerves that lead to the legs and feet are the
longest in the body, making them especially vulnerable to
diabetic nerve damage Naturally,the taller you are the longer
those nerves are, and the more susceptible they are to
deterioration and loss of function
The shorter nerves of shorter diabetics are not as open to
damage, so those people are better able to feel the pain when a
cut or other wound happens, giving them a chance to deal with it
before it causes serious damage
So if you are a tall diabetic, is this cause for panic or
despair? Not at all It just reinforces the advice we diabetics
have always been given: look after your feet and legs carefully,
check regularly for wounds, ulcers or anything unusual–and get
them treated right away
And yes, that goes for diabetics both short and tall!

Tags | association, damage, deterioration, diabetics, national, population, taiwan, ulcers