Up to 50% of people who are diabetic may experience nerve pain, typically starting in the hands or feet. This pain can make it hard to sleep, walk, and enjoy normal daily activities. Diabetic nerve pain is often sharp and stabbing, or it may feel like your extremities are on fire.
At Premier Foot and Ankle locations in McKinney, Sherman, Plano, and other areas north of Dallas, Texas, our experienced team of podiatrists routinely helps patients with diabetes manage the care of their feet and control both nerve damage and pain. Diabetic foot care is vital to preventing serious conditions like loss of circulation, slow wound healing, infections, and even toe or foot amputation.
Diabetes can cause damage over time to the peripheral nerves, leading to peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage. Peripheral nerves are the nerves that lead from the spinal cord into the extremities, like your hands and feet. When these nerves are damaged by high blood sugar levels over long periods of time, the results can include:
For some people, peripheral neuropathy can cause diabetic foot pain that keeps them up at night or prevents them from walking or standing.
The best way to help prevent diabetic neuropathy and nerve pain is to keep blood sugar levels under control. This can be accomplished by the following steps:
By keeping your blood glucose levels steady, you can decrease the chances of nerve damage and help prevent diabetes-related foot pain.
While there is no cure for diabetic neuropathy, you and your podiatrist can work together to manage your symptoms and decrease diabetic foot pain. Testing the conductivity of your nerves is one way to monitor whether or not your condition is progressing.
Carefully managing foot health is also vital, as constant pain or numbness can dull your awareness of your feet and cause small injuries to go by without notice or proper treatment. Any cut or injury to your feet should immediately prompt a visit to our office for wound care.
If you have diabetes and are experiencing pain in your feet, call one of our convenient locations or book an appointment online.
