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Foot Pain & Diabetes
By Jeff Foster
Foot pain can certainly be caused
by any number of reasons. However, foot pain resulting from diabetes
is both painful and very common for those living with diabetes.
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Diabetes and foot pain is generally
defined by four different
types.
A nerve problem (where the nerves
themselves are affected by
the disease) called peripheral neuropathy is the most common
source of foot pain tied to diabetes. Peripheral neuropathy
comes in the form of sensory, motor, and autonomic neuropathy.
Sensory neuropathy is the most
common and is defined by
symptoms where the amount of pain is much greater than the
source that is causing the pain. As an example, just touching,
or lightly pulling on your socks triggers a painful reaction.
Also, with sensory neuropathy you may experience some numbness
along with tingling, burning, or even stabbing type pain
symptoms.
Because blood sugar can be a
player in this type of pain, check
your blood sugar levels for the past several weeks to see if
perhaps there is an upward trend toward high levels.
Relief is of the utmost importance
in these cases and can come
from various applications. Massaging your feet or using a foot
roller can sometimes drop the level of pain. Anything you can
do
from a shoe perspective such as cushioned supports and inserts
can assist as well. Anything to help mitigate the pressure and
pounding of daily activities on the foot and/or any rubbing or
chaffing is beneficial. There are also prescription drugs that
your doctor can recommend that will often times work.
When the nerves to the muscles
become affected by diabetes
(motor neuropathy), your muscles will begin to feel weak and
achy. Although the smaller muscles of the feet aren’t usually
the first to be affected, your balance can eventually become
affected which may cause alignment problems and/or rubbing on
the feet which ultimately results in pain. Support, exercise,
stretching, and massage are your best weapon against motor
neuropathy. Keeping your muscles healthy and flexible is a key
element in relieving this type of foot pain. |
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Autonomic neuropathy affects the
nerves that we don’t consciously control, hence the ‘auto’
of autonomic. With this condition existing your sweating triggers
are altered and as such you may suffer from dry or cracked skin.
For your feet this may result in a build up of foot calluses,
thickened nails and such that lead to foot pain. The daily use
of conditioning agents formulated specifically for diabetes can
aid or prevent this problem.
With diabetic people proper circulation
is a primary concern. Circulation problems in the feet can cause
severe pain. Addressing circulation problems should always be
done in conjunction with your medical doctor. Various approaches
may include an exercise program, physical therapy, medication,
or even surgical procedures, but again, consult with your physician
before considering any strategy that involves addressing a circulation
issue.
With diabetic people muscle and
joint pain is not uncommon. If tendons and joints begin to stiffen
coupled with imbalances associated with peripheral neuropathy
and walking alignment occurs, the foot and the joints become
painful. In fact, if the walking misalignments continue, this
can lead to other foot disorders such as corns, bunions, and
hammertoe.
People living with diabetes are
more susceptible to infections within their body because of the
changes that have taken place in their body. If a bacterial infection
attacks the foot, the foot can become red, experience swelling,
feel warm, and be painful. Keeping the immune system as healthy
as possible by controlling your blood sugar, proper nutrition,
and exercise, should be a top priority in your defense against
infections.
If you are afflicted with diabetes,
in addition to being mindful of the above information, work closely
with your primary care physician to ensure that you receive proper
information and care for your personal situation. |
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