Exercise is crucial in the management of diabetes. Exercise lowers blood sugar, aids in weight loss and reduces high blood pressure. You expect your workout to bring these benefits and provide relief from discomfort. If your exercise causes a burning sensation in your feet, speak with your doctor because neuropathy may be the cause.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a group of symptoms centered around your body's inability to process glucose. You eat food. Your body converts the food into glucose, or sugar. The glucose is transported through your bloodstream to the cells of your organs and muscles. Your pancreas releases insulin to bind to the glucose and transport the glucose into the cells. A diabetic's system does not produce any or enough insulin to bind with the glucose. When this happens, glucose remains in the bloodstream and is considered "elevated." Elevated levels of glucose damage the blood vessels over time and impair the nerves.
Feet
High glucose levels damage the nerves on the bottom of your feet. Neuropathy is the term to describe nerve damage and is usually associated with the nerves in the feet and legs. You experience burning sensations, tingling, numbness or stabbing pains with neuropathy. The symptoms of neuropathy vary from person to person. Exercise may or may not aggravate your symptoms, but the more time spent on your feet usually increases your foot discomfort.
Exercise
Cardiovascular exercise, such as walking, improves circulation and increases blood flow to your feet. According to podiatrist Larry D. Scortt, a proper fitting shoe decreases your foot discomfort during exercise. Wear proper fitting shoes that allow for adequate room for your toes. Your heels should not slide up and down in the shoe. Your shoes should provide a cushion as you walk. Wear socks that absorb sweat and change your socks after your workout to keep your feet dry. Avoid exercising barefoot as the decreased feeling in your feet may not alert you to cuts on the bottom of your feet, or alert you when stepping on a sharp object.
Exercise Alternatives
Cardiovascular exercise is an important component in your diabetes self-care. Instead of avoiding exercise due to foot pain, alter your workout program. If weight bearing exercises such as walking, running and dancing aggravate the burning sensation in your feet, replace your cardiovascular workout with a low-impact exercise. Use a stationary upright bike or recumbent bike to reduce the amount of body weight your feet supports. Swim to use a non-impact exercise and remove all weight on your feet. Another solution is to perform your exercise in shorter sessions. Instead of completing 30 minutes at a time, break down your workout into three 10-minute sessions throughout the day.
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