Photo by Lina Kraftsoff on Unsplash
Diabetic foot pain is a common symptom of neuropathy. While diabetics undergo many health complications as a result of their condition, nerve damage is a common complication.
Nerve damage is caused by high blood sugar levels going unchecked for a prolonged period of time. High blood sugar affects the nerves by weakening the walls of small blood vessels. These blood vessels are needed to supply your nerves with oxygen and nutrients, and the weakened walls interfere with your blow flow, causing the nerves to not get the oxygen and nutrients they need to successfully send signals throughout your body and to your brain.
Nerve damage affects as much as 50% of people with diabetes, and can affect both Type 1 and Type 2 patients. While diabetics can face nerve damage in many different areas of their body, neuropathy in the feet is usually the first warning sign.
When nerve damage affects the legs and feet, it is called peripheral neuropathy. And though there are many different types of neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy is the most typical form. This condition has various symptoms, which you need to pay attention to immediately, regardless of how severe these symptoms may be.
Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy:
- Sharp pain & cramping in legs and feet
- Numbness/loss of feeling in legs and feet
- Tingling or burning sensations
- Oversensitivity to touch
- Insensitive to hot & cold temperatures
- Poor balance and coordination
- Muscle fatigue & weakness
- Frequent pins and needles
While some patients don’t experience a lot of pain, and the symptoms may not bother them as much, they need to treat this condition seriously, and take action as soon as possible, as loss of feeling can lead to patients putting too much pressure on certain points of their feet (leading to problems with their posture) not noticing sores on their feet, leaving them untreated, and causing them to become serious ulcers. The danger lies in ulcers becoming infected, and in serious cases, infections can lead to amputation.
Unfortunately, nerve damage from peripheral neuropathy can’t be reversed. However, there are actions that you can take to slow its progress and manage your symptoms.
What You Can Do to Treat Diabetic Foot Pain and Nerve Damage
The most important way to treat your peripheral neuropathy is to follow a low-carb, low-sugar diet and ensure you do 30minutes of high-intensity exercise at least twice a week (swimming is great if your foot pain is bad) if you have Type 2 Diabetes – it’s also wise to ensure you consistently take your Glucophage. If you have Type 1, you need to make sure you’re monitoring your blood sugar regularly and taking insulin when needed. It’s also wise to ensure that you manage your stress to avoid any flare ups.
We strongly advise that you come in for a check up regularly and speak to us about the medications, therapies, and treatments available to you. We know that neuropathy can be scary, but with a little help and guidance, it’s very treatable. Let us help you through your health journey – book a consult with us today, so you can get seen to as soon as possible.
