Why does diabetes affect balance?
Over time, high blood sugar can damage the small nerves in the feet. This is called peripheral neuropathy. The feet then lose some sense of touch, heat and position.
The 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey found 15.6% of Malaysian adults have diabetes [1]. In Perak, 14.9% of residents are aged 60 and over, the highest share of any state [2]. Diabetes and age together make balance problems common in Ipoh families.
What are the signs?
Look for these signs in your parent.
- Numbness, tingling, burning or “walking on cotton” in the feet.
- Tripping on rugs or door sills without noticing.
- Holding the wall, furniture or a person while walking.
- Standing less steadily with the eyes closed, for example when washing the face.
- Cuts, blisters or marks on the feet that were not felt.
- Feeling unsteady in the dark.
Tell the doctor about these. The doctor checks blood sugar, medicines, eyesight and other causes, because more than one thing can affect balance.
How do you check the feet every day?
A daily foot check takes two minutes. Do it in the evening, in good light, with a phone torch if needed.
- Look at the tops, sides, heels and between the toes.
- Look under the feet. Use a mirror or ask a family member to look.
- Check for cuts, blisters, red patches, dry cracks and swelling.
- Feel for warmth or hard spots.
- Check the inside of the shoes for stones or rough seams.
If a mark is not healing within a day or two, see the doctor.
What should the feet wear in an Ipoh home?
Some people walk barefoot on cool tiles or wear thin rubber slippers indoors. With numb feet, this is risky. A hot floor, a dropped pin or a rough tile edge can cause a wound that nobody feels.
Choose closed, soft shoes with a firm sole and a wide front for the toes. Wear clean socks without thick seams. Check that nothing rubs, and buy shoes in the afternoon, when feet are largest.
Which balance exercises are safe?
Start at the kitchen counter, with a sturdy chair behind. Ask a physiotherapist to check the feet first.
- Stand with feet together for ten seconds, holding the counter lightly.
- Stand with one foot slightly ahead of the other.
- Shift weight side to side, then forward and back.
- Rise onto the toes and lower slowly.
- Stand up from the chair without using the hands.
Stop if there is a wound, pain or dizziness. Our page on diabetes and exercise in Perak covers other safety points.
How can you make the house safer?
Remove loose mats and cables. Add a night light between the bed and toilet.
Put a non-slip mat in the bathroom and use a stool for showering. Use our home safety checklist to go room by room.
How does home physiotherapy help?
We check how your parent stands and walks, test balance safely and plan exercises that fit. We teach the family how to guard and how to check the feet. We work alongside the doctor treating the diabetes.
Read more about diabetic foot and balance and peripheral neuropathy. Our Canning Garden centre, near Fatimah Hospital, is opening soon. Home and centre prices differ and are quoted on WhatsApp.