Many people who have diabetes eventually develop neuropathy, which is a dysfunction of the nerves. It mostly affects the peripheral nervous system. Typically, this affects the feet, but can affect the hands as well. Common symptoms include a feeling of burning, numbness, or tingling. Apart from making it difficult to be aware that you may have injured yourself such as treading on a push pin, it can also lead to amputation of the toes, or even the entire foot. Neuropathy can be degenerative, so early diagnosis is extremely advantageous.
Self-testing using a monofilament should help to diagnose issues before they become serious. There used to be a free program from the Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention (LEAP) program, and some websites still state this is an active program, but online links appear to be inactive. However, they are not expensive, and I have seen them online for as little as a box of 25 for less than $4. A pharmacy would probably have them for just a few cents.
Here is a link to some Self-Testing Instructions. The link brings up a .pdf file, which is printable, so it would be very easy to keep track of your testing. If you do not have any symptoms of neuropathy you only need to test yourself once a year, but be sure to consult a doctor as soon as you detect a problem.
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Please note that the content presented here is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, and it should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease.
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