A disabled man named Rafee Baksh claims that the Redbridge Council has placed him in housing that he can’t use. Baksh has advanced diabetic neuropathy in his feet that has made walking impossible, confining him to a wheelchair. He was moved out of his old accommodation due to an incident involving his motorized scooter and placed in his current housing in Forest Gate as a temporary measure until Redbridge could secure him a permanent dwelling.

But according to Baksh, the Forest Hills hostel isn’t wheelchair accessible, making it hard for him to do everyday tasks like shower and use the bathroom. “It makes it difficult just do to the basics in life,” he said.

Diabetic neuropathy is one of many types of systemic diseases that can affect the feet. If you think you may have a systemic disease, consider talking to podiatrist Dr. Bryant Tarr of Sudbury & Westford Podiatry. Dr. Tarr will diagnose your condition and assist you in identifying the cause of the problem.

Systemic Diseases of the Foot

Systemic diseases affect the whole body, and symptoms usually are displayed in the feet. This condition can make a patient’s ability to walk unbearable. Systemic diseases include: gout, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders, and arthritis.

Gout – is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. Some common symptoms include pain, inflammation, and redness at the metatarsal/phalangeal joint of the base big toe. Gout can be treated by NSAIDs, which relieves pain and inflammation  and other drugs which lowers the acid levels in the body.

Diabetes mellitus- is an increase in the level of blood sugar in which the body cannot counteract with the insulin in the body. When the body doesn’t produce enough insulin this is a factor in Diabetes.

Diabetes of the Feet

â—Diabetic Neuropathy – may lead to damaged nerves and affect the feet through numbness and loss of sensation.

â—Peripheral Vascular Disease- can restrict the blood flow to the feet, and often times lead to amputation of the feet. 

For more information about Systemic Diseases of the Feet, follow the link below.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices in Sudbury and Westford, MA.  We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more about Systemic Diseases of the Foot.