What can I do to manage diabetes-related foot pain? The only way to stop the infection from continuing to spread is by amputating the infected limb. Skin infections can cause the skin and muscle tissues to die. Infected ulcers can spread and cause you to lose your foot or leg.Īmputations: If the complications listed above are not treated properly, they can all become infected. The longer you go without seeing one, the more likely it is that it will become infected. All ulcers (no matter how small) need to be seen by a provider. Ulcers: These are sores that happen to some people with diabetes due to poor blood circulation. Never attempt to do this at home as it can lead to infections. If they get really thick, a provider can cut or shave them down. You can use a pumice stone daily to help keep them at a minimum. People with diabetes get calluses faster and more often than those without diabetes. If this happens, plain petroleum jelly or unscented hand creams can help.Ĭalluses: This is an area of thickened skin that has less feeling. This type of nerve pain can lead to complications if you don’t see a healthcare provider and get treated.īelow are some of the problems that can come from untreated diabetes nerve pain:ĭry, cracked skin: This may not sound too bad, but when your skin is too dry, your risk of getting skin infections goes up. What are some risks if I don’t get treatment?ĭiabetes-related foot pain is more than just pain it’s a warning sign from your body. But these tend to be more invasive and are not recommended on a regular basis. Your healthcare provider could ask you to have additional tests done if they think you do have nerve damage. They may also suggest that you meet with a foot doctor (podiatrist). If you have diabetes, your provider will likely perform this test at least once a year to catch nerve problems early and help stop them from getting worse. It involves your provider brushing a soft piece of nylon (called a monofilament) along different areas of your feet as you keep your eyes closed and say “yes” every time you think you feel it. They’ll do a quick test to see if your feet can feel properly. If you notice any unusual sensations or pain in your feet or hands, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider. What should I do if I have diabetic foot pain symptoms? You’re also more likely to injure your feet if you have numbness. If blood circulation is poor, which can happen in diabetes, those wounds take longer to heal. Slow-healing injuries: Healthy blood vessels carry immune cells to wounds to help fight infections and repair the damaged tissue. If you’re noticing that you don’t feel when you step on an object or cut your feet, this can be a sign of nerve damage. Numbness or weakness: Nerves help you feel, and they tell your muscles to work. It could be pain from bed sheets brushing against your feet or feeling like certain socks are uncomfortable or painful to wear. Pain or higher sensitivity: This is pain or sensitivity to what are normally not painful things. It feels similar to when your foot falls asleep. Tingling: This is a “pins-and-needles” kind of sensation. The most common diabetic foot symptoms include: What does foot pain from diabetes feel like? Slower healing of injuries and greater risk of infection, ulcers, and gangrene This can lower blood flow to the feet, which, in turn, leads to:īreakdown of the skin, making it more prone to damage and infection This is when damage to blood vessel walls causes blood vessels to become stiff and narrow. When it happens in the feet and legs, peripheral neuropathy causes pain, numbness, and other problems related to balance and foot stability. This is the name for damage to any nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Together, they are responsible for the typical diabetic leg pain and other diabetic foot complications that people with diabetes experience. Damage to the nerves and blood vessels in the feet causes two separate but related problems. Because the nerves and blood vessels supplying the feet are so long and delicate, the feet - and especially the toes - often get affected first. When you have diabetes, high glucose levels in the blood can damage nerves and blood vessels. View more medications How does diabetes affect the health of my feet?
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