How To Approach Diabetic Foot Pain

If you have diabetes and take your medications as instructed by your doctor, you are less likely to experience diabetes-related complications. However, if your blood sugar remains persistently high, you may develop diabetic foot pain, which may interfere with your ability to perform your daily activities. Fortunately, your vein specialist Yonkers at Premier Vascular offers a wide range of treatments that prevents further damage and restores normal blood sugar levels.

Medical conditions that may trigger diabetic foot pain

Diabetes is a chronic disorder that, if left unmanaged, can result in life-threatening complications. One effect of unmanaged diabetes is diabetic foot pain due to two diabetes-related conditions.

• Diabetic neuropathy (peripheral neuropathy)

When your blood sugar is persistently high, it may damage the nerves in your feet, a disorder known as peripheral neuropathy. This disease can minimize the sense of touch in your feet, leading to tingling sensations or numbness. In some cases, nerve damage can result in sharp pain, burning, and aching. Neuropathic pain often worsens at night, resulting in excruciating pain that interferes with the quality of your sleep. You may also experience pain from a light touch that is harmless to other people.

• Peripheral arterial disease

PAD is due to a build-up of fatty deposits in your blood vessels, a disorder known as atherosclerosis. As the plaque accumulates, it cuts off blood flow, depriving your muscles, skin, and other tissues of nutrients and oxygen. The signature symptom of PAD is claudication, which improves with rest. You may also experience skin rashes, slow-healing vascular ulcers, leg numbness, fatigue, hair loss, and painful leg swelling.

Complications associated with diabetic foot pain

Diabetic foot pain is an alarming symptom that you shouldn’t ignore. This symptom indicates that your blood sugar levels are over the roof, and if not addressed, it can lead to critical limb ischemia, gangrene, non-healing diabetic foot ulcers, skin and bone infections, and non-healing arterial ulcers. These are severe complications that can prompt amputation.

How You Can Treat Diabetic Foot Pain

Although the damage to your nerves is irreversible, Dr. Patel may recommend specific treatments to prevent further damage. He may help you set a blood sugar goal and monitor it to prevent it from going out of control. Your provider may advise you to lower your blood sugar levels to 70-1390 mg/dL before meals and 180mg/dL after meals. The team may also incorporate exercise, medications, and diets in your treatment plan to keep your blood sugar in control. You may also need to quit smoking and maintain a healthy weight to prevent other complications. The Premier Vascular team may recommend over-the-counter medications like aspirin and ibuprofen to alleviate your symptoms. Although antidepressants are depression medications, your doctor may prescribe them to interfere with the transmission of pain signals to your brain. Anti-seizure drugs can also improve nerve pain and enhance sleep quality. Physical therapy treatments like swimming can also treat diabetic neuropathy. The team recommends low-impact exercises as they are more effective than high-impact exercises, which may cause nerve numbness.

If you are struggling with diabetic foot pain, call Dr. Patel or schedule an appointment online to begin your treatment today.

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