Diabetics are prone to nerve damage, particularly in their feet. High blood glucose levels cause damage to the nerves in the feet, resulting in pain and numbness. The loss of feeling in the feet makes the diabetic prone to unnoticed injuries, which can lead to infections. Poor blood circulation is another common issue with diabetic neuropathy that leads to pain and foot injury. Regular doctor visits along with home foot care are vital to preventing infections and reducing nerve pain.
Blood Glucose Levels
Monitor your blood glucose levels regularly, and control your blood sugar through diet and medications. By keeping your glucose levels within a normal range, you can help prevent nerve pain and further nerve damage.
Foot Care
Practice daily foot care to prevent painful calluses and ulcers. Gently wash your feet in warm water. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your foot bath water to ward off fungal infections. Lightly scrub your wet feet with a pumice stone. Apply lotion to your feet to keep the skin smooth, supple and less prone to injury. Inspect your feet for signs of infection or injury during your daily foot care routine. Visit your doctor if you notice any cuts, calluses, corns, bunions, ulcers or skin infections.
Wear socks and shoes when outside and slippers around the house. Keep your feet protected at all times because nerve damage decreases the feeling in your feet, making it so you don't always feel injuries when they happen.
Consider visiting a podiatrist to get fit for special shoes and orthotics to take pressure off your feet and minimize nerve pain.
Blood Circulation
Participate in low-impact exercise daily to increase blood circulation for healthier feet. Poor blood circulation in the feet increases nerve pain. Swimming and tai chi are forms of exercise that do not put stress on the feet. Avoid smoking cigarettes, which decrease blood circulation and make the feet more prone to painful infections.
Pain Management
Ask your doctor for pain medication if the nerve pain interferes with the quality of your life. Common oral medications used to treat nerve pain are opiods, anticonvulsants and antidepressants. Talk to your doctor about receiving botulinum toxin A injections to relieve nerve pain if oral medications don't sufficiently help. A study published by the American Academy of Neurology found that botulinum toxin A injections relieved pain in 44.4 percent of study participants who had diabetic neuropathy.
References
- Neurology 72(17):e82-5; American Academy of Neurology; Kaufman JL, Karceski S.; Apr. 28, 2009
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) - tic Neuropathies: The Nerve Damage of Diabetes
