The loss of sensation that people with diabetes sometimes experience in their feet may predict their risk of suffering a cardiovascular event such as a stroke or heart attack, a new study suggests.

Diabetes can cause blood vessel and nerve damage, particularly if the condition is poorly controlled. This can lead to poor circulation and a loss of sensation in the feet, which is known as peripheral neuropathy.

UK researchers looked at over 13,000 people with type 2 diabetes and found that a lack of sensation in the feet could indicate future cardiovascular problems.

"While the risk of cardiovascular disease is known to be higher in patients with diabetes, predicting which patients may be at greatest risk is often difficult. We looked at data on individuals with no history of cardiovascular disease and found that those with peripheral neuropathy were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease," the researchers from St George's, University of London, said.

They noted that while poor sensation in the feet is already a known risk factor for foot ulcers, which in extreme circumstances can lead to amputations, ‘this is the first study to show that it can also indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular problems like heart attacks or strokes'.

However, the researchers emphasised that a lack of sensation in the feet can be easily identified by a GP.

"The good news is that peripheral neuropathy can be easily identified by simple tests carried out in GP surgeries. The results of the study warrant further investigation as to whether even greater control of risk factors including blood pressure and blood sugar can prevent or delay the onset of cardiovascular disease.

"There is likely an unmet potential to reduce cardiovascular disease in this group of patients through greater monitoring and simple treatments," they added.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Heart.