Popular treatment and self-care options for diabetic foot pain

Diabetes often means having a greater risk of a foot condition. It can lead to long-term problems all across your body. It is required to follow the tips prescribed by the doctor, add a healthy diet, and exercise to control the blood sugar effectively.

High blood sugar can cause diabetic neuropathy responsible for damaging the nerves that send signals from your hands and feet.

Four types of diabetes-related neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy – Generally, it affects the feet and legs. However, it can also lead to arm, abdomen, and back related issues in rare cases. Some symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include the following:

• Tingling
• Numbness
• Burning
• Pain

Autonomic neuropathy – This usually affects the digestives system, along with the stomach. Apart from it, this also affects the sex organs, blood vessels, urinary system. Some of the symptoms include the following:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Feeling full after small meals
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Heartburn

Proximal neuropathy – It leads to pain in the hips, thighs, or buttocks. It also causes having pain in the legs.

Focal neuropathy – Symptoms of this type can suddenly emerge. It can also affect specific nerves, head, torso, or leg. It can also lead to muscle weakness or pain. 

• Having severe pain in lower back/leg
• Chest or belly pain
• Double vision
• Eye pain
• One side face-paralysis

Diabetic foot pain treatment options for diabetic neuropathy:

• Make sure that you are managing your blood sugar levels as you can prevent diabetes by just doing this. Maintaining blood sugar consistently is required otherwise you may have permanent damage to the nerves. It also leads to health issues related to other body parts like eyes, skin, blood vessels, nerves, and so on.
• Add a healthy diet to your life in order to not let the health issues increase. What you are having in your diet holds a direct impact on your blood sugar level. Avoid having refined carbs and sugary drinks. Go for having unprocessed food.
• Exercise on a daily basis. If you are not able to do intense exercise, go for only walking as it is quite helpful. Doing exercise on daily basis of 30–60 minutes is enough to bring the best benefits to your body. You may even go with low impact exercises including cycling, walking, or swimming. It makes easy for your body responds to insulin better. Apart from it, exercise protect nerves by improving circulation. It reduces the stress level.
• Reduce exposure to toxins as people having diabetes are prone to develop a kidney stone. Apart from it, quit smoking and alcohol.
• Do not take a lot of stress. Follow the best way to maintain it. Stress can lead to further complications. The best ways to reduce stress include being close to nature, spending time with family and friends, and so can help to mitigate the complications.
• Make sure that you are taking care of your skin and feet. Use only the doctor’s prescribed medicines, lotion, etc.

How can diabetes-related foot problems be prevented?

• Go for wearing comfortable and closed-toe footwear as they serve your feet extra care. You may also take doctor’s suggestion what shoe will be right to choose.
• Don’t walk barefoot even if you are at home.
• Washing feet with warm water will bring great relief to you and also considered the best tip to follow regarding diabetic foot pain treatment.
• Keep checking your feet daily for any sores or problems.
• Always apply lotion to dry areas not between the toes.
• Do use scissors or razors to cut away corns on your own.
• Trim toenails time to time. Do not let them grow as they may lead to pain.

Diabetic foot pain treatment options

• You may have to undergo a physical examination in which your pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate will be examined. Apart from it, examination of the sensation in the feet and legs will also be done.
• Your doctor may ask you for laboratory tests to determine the presence and severity of infection in which kidney function tests, blood chemistry studies,  liver  enzyme tests, and heart enzyme tests to assess are included.
• X-ray studies of circulation in the legs to examine the sign of damage to the bones or arthritis, damage from infection, or foreign bodies in the soft tissues.

Medical options for treatment of foot pain in diabetes

• Antibiotics:  Your doctor may prescribe you antibiotics if doctor determines that a wound on patient’s foot has been infected.
• Referral to wound care center:  Patients having lower extremity wounds and ulcers along with other difficult-to-treat wounds are referred to a wound care center. In such centers, the diabetic foot pain treatment options may include improving circulation through therapy or surgery, special dressings, antibiotics, and surgical debridement of the wound.
• Referral to podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon:  A diabetic patient having corns and calluses, hammer toes, bunions, flat feet, heel spurs, bone-related problems, toenail problems, arthritis, or have difficulty with finding shoes that fit are referred to a podiatrist. They make special customized shoes for them.
• Home health care: Your doctor may also prescribe you a nurse in order to help with wound care and dressings at home, in administering antibiotics, monitoring blood sugar, and so on.