Millions of people with diabetes have damage to the nerves of their feet. Symptoms include both numbness, pain, and loss of awareness of where the feet are. This can lead to falls, hip fractures, and ulcerations that cause amputations. The cause is a reduction of blood flow to the nerves of the feet caused by overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. There is evidence that gamma linolenic acid (GLA) deficiency can accelerate this nerve damage. The value of infrared imaging and treatment with photonic stimulation is remarkable.
