Diabetic Foot pain

Are Your Experiencing Diabetic Foot Pain?

Being a diabetic, many parts of the body get damaged, due to having too much glucose in the blood for extended periods. One of the main complaints of diabetics, I’d say would have to be the feet! In a nutshell, the cause of diabetic foot pain is mainly brought about by two main conditions

1. Diabetic Foot Pain & Nerve Damage

Diabetic neuropathy (damage to the nerves) is a very common complaint that occurs in the legs and feet. Basically, this condition occurs as a result of the normal process of the disease.

This condition can be quite dangerous:

you may not feel any pain,
you may not feel hot or cold
sores, ulcers, and even infection may be present and you’ll never know as you can’t feel it.

How often do we hear the words ‘my feet are killing me’!

Well, those words may well be too true for diabetics, unless good care is taken of your feet and in turn, lessen the diabetic foot pain you are experiencing. There are many home remedies for Diabetic Neuropathy.

Diabetic Foot Pain Treatment

Start by checking the trend of your blood sugar readings over the past few weeks (has it been a little on the high side). You should ask your Health care professional, his opinion regarding an A1c test. This test determines your levels over a time period. If your blood sugar levels are constantly high, this can contribute to nerve pain.
A good little gadget is a diabetic foot roller.Just gently massage your feet by running them over the roller. This may help reduce the severity of the pain.
Massaging the feet with some specialized diabetic foot cream, can play an essential role in preventing some of the problems.
Make sure you always wear good-fitting, comfortable supportive shoes. You could also invest in some inserts for extra comfort.

2. Diabetic Foot Pain and Poor Circulation.

Diabetes often also brings about poor circulation to the legs and feet. Once again, this is due to high glucose (sugar) levels in the blood, and the effects this has on the arteries, veins and capillaries. Capillaries tend to stiffen and get thicker with extra fatty deposits – this causes problems with delivering correct amounts of oxygen and vital nutrients to the tissues. (Peripheral vascular disease). Veins can swell up, when there becomes more blood they can cope with. Blood then pools into the legs and feet, sometimes even leaking out onto the skin.

diabetes foot nerve pain — diabetes and joint pain

I was visiting my Mom recently – she has problems with her feet due to poor blood flow. She bought herself a Circulation Booster and I tell you, the difference for her, was amazing!

How can I help Foot Pain from Poor Circulation?

It’s a great idea to have a regular check-up with your podiatrist – perhaps once every 6 months.

2. Wear support hose, or get yourself a good pair of ‘diabetic socks’, for when you have long periods of sitting, or when traveling.

3. If you are a smoker, give up! If you are suffering from Peripheral vascular disease (bad circulation) you will definitely benefit from giving up smoking.

4. EXERCISE EXERCISE! Of course, the best way to improve this condition is to make sure you get regular exercise. Walking is great! If you can manage 20-40 minutes a day, 5 days a week, this will make a significant difference to your circulation. A perfect situation is to make sure that you are walking quick enough to puff a little, but not too much so that you have problems holding a conversation.

To sweat just a little is also good. It means your body is working. You will have to make this a life change – a regular part of your daily life from now on. If you’re not quite up to 5 days a week, just start with 2 or 3 and build it up over time.

Once again, massage is great and may also help to reduce diabetic foot pain.

What Causes Diabetic Foot Swelling?

Swelling of the ankles and feet as a result of fluid retention in the tissues is commonly called edema. Accumulation of fluid generalized or localized to a particular part of the body. Swelling commonly occurs after sitting in one position for long, after eating salty food or as a result of hormonal changes. However, swelling can also be caused by other conditions.

Edema (swelling in the ankles and feet) can also be caused by diabetes. Diabetic foot swelling is usually caused by diabetes-related factors, such as:

Poor circulation
Kidney problems
Heart problems
Obesity
Venous insufficiency
Side effects of medication

Diabetes and Swelling

If the body is unable to utilize insulin properly, glucose can accumulate in the blood. High level of blood glucose can damage the delicate lining of small blood vessels and this damage can hamper blood circulation.

Is Feet Swelling a sign of Poor circulation?

Poor blood circulation results in fluids getting trapped in some parts of the body, such as the feet, ankles, and legs.

For people with diabetes, healing tends to be slower and swelling can occur after an ankle or foot injury. Over time, high levels of blood sugar can damage nerves in various parts of the body, such as the lower extremities.

This can cause numbness, making it hard to detect injuries such as cuts, sprains, and fractures.

If left untreated, sprains and fractures can cause swelling in the affected area. Additionally, if untreated wounds become infected, swelling can occur.

Speak to your physician about the swelling you are experiencing, because sometimes swelling can be symptom of other underlying problems such as liver, kidney, or heart disease. It is also very important for people with diabetes to check their feet regularly for injuries such as cuts and bruises. Visit your doctor periodically to check for nerve damage or circulation problems especially in the lower extremities.

Top 5 tips for Managing Diabetes Foot Swelling

1.Lose weight

Healthy weight loss can also help reduce swelling in the lower extremities. Maintaining a healthy weight brings about numerous health benefits including lower risk of heart disease, less joint pain and it will be easier to regulate your blood sugar levels. Maintaining your blood sugar level within the target range reduces the risk of diabetes-related complications such as damage to blood levels, swelling and poor circulation.

2.Wear compression socks

Using compression socks helps maintain uniform pressure on your legs and feet. Maintaining the right amount of pressure in the lower extremities can help improve circulation and reduce swelling.

Compression socks are readily available in most pharmacies, grocery stores, and medical supply stores. They are available in various levels including heavy, medium, and light. Your doctor can help you determine the level you should purchase. However, socks should not be placed over sores or open wounds.

3. Keep your feet elevated

Elevating your feet above the heart level can help reduce the retention of fluid in the lower extremities. It prevents fluid from collecting in the feet by helping it return towards the upper body. You can easily elevate your feet why lying in bed or sitting on the couch. Use a stack of books to keep your legs propped, pillows, or a foot elevation pillow.

4. Exercise regularly

A sedentary lifestyle can increase swelling in the lower extremities. Try moving as much as possible during the day. Exercise is not only helpful for improving blood sugar and weight management, it can also reduce swelling and promote blood circulation. Aim for at least 30 minutes of non-weight-bearing exercises most days of the week. The best exercises include walking, cycling, and swimming.

5. Stay hydrated

Drinking more water when the body retains fluid seems counterproductive. However, when you take in more fluids, you’ll expel even more fluid through urination. Moreover, the body retains water when it’s dehydrated. Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day to reduce swelling.

Before increasing your water/fluid intake, consult your doctor to determine if this is the right thing for your specific condition. Sometimes, if the swelling is due to liver problems or heart problems, doctors may advise you against increasing your fluid intake.

A high salt intake can worsen swelling. Instead of salt, use herbs such as oregano, rosemary, garlic powder, thyme and paprika. People with diabetes may need to limit their salt intake. Consult your doctor to see the amount of salt you should eat per day. You can cut back by eating more vegetables and fruits. Avoid purchasing processed foods; instead, look for low-sodium foods.

Nerve Damage in Diabetics

Nerve damage occurs when excessively high glucose levels for extended periods of time damage the nerves, especially the nerves of the lower extremities. When these nerves are damaged it is called peripheral neuropathy and can be characterized by pain and or numbness in the feet.

This numbness can be a contributing factor to wounds and sores on the feet as the decreased sensation causes the diabetic to not be able to sense damage to the foot. The decreased sensation can also cause the diabetic to not be able to support themselves as they normally would and this can lead to falls and injuries to the feet ankles and knees.

When the blood vessels of the lower extremities are blocked and circulation decreases it can cause damage at the cellular level as the cells are unable to receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood. All of these symptoms are made worse by the fact that slow healing is also a sign of diabetes and infections are common.

Diabetes foot swelling, nerve damage, and other problems can lead to a greatly decreased quality of life, and the key to heading off the worst effects is appropriate glucose control.

Check out our Top 4 diabetic lotions to increase circulation HERE!