What part of the foot hurts with diabetes?

When you have diabetes, high glucose levels in the blood can damage nerves and blood vessels. Because the nerves and blood vessels supplying the feet are so long and delicate, the feet — and especially the toes — often get affected first.


Where does diabetic foot pain occur?

Diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in the legs and feet. Depending on the affected nerves, diabetic neuropathy symptoms include pain and numbness in the legs, feet and hands. It can also cause problems with the digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. Some people have mild symptoms.

What kind of foot pain is associated with diabetes?

Over time, diabetes may cause nerve damage, also called diabetic neuropathy, that can cause tingling and pain, and can make you lose feeling in your feet. When you lose feeling in your feet, you may not feel a pebble inside your sock or a blister on your foot, which can lead to cuts and sores.


What part of the foot is affected by diabetic neuropathy?

Loss of coordination is a common sign of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Often, muscle weakness affects the ankle, which can affect your gait.

How do you check for diabetic feet?

Your provider will brush a soft nylon fiber called a monofilament over your foot and toes to test your foot's sensitivity to touch. Tuning fork and visual perception tests (VPT). Your provider will place a tuning fork or other device against your foot and toes to see if you can feel the vibration it produces.


Diabetic Foot: Symptoms, Treatment & Care | Dr. Robbie George



What are the first signs of diabetes in feet?

Tingling, burning, or pain in your feet. Loss of sense of touch or ability to feel heat or cold very well. A change in the shape of your feet over time. Loss of hair on your toes, feet, and lower legs.

How does a diabetic foot start?

How does diabetes cause foot problems? Foot problems are common in people with diabetes. They can happen over time when high blood sugar damages the nerves and blood vessels in the feet. The nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy, can cause numbness, tingling, pain, or a loss of feeling in your feet.

How do I get rid of diabetic nerve pain in my foot?

For diabetic neuropathy, you may want to try:
  1. Capsaicin. Capsaicin cream, applied to the skin, can reduce pain sensations in some people. ...
  2. Alpha-lipoic acid. ...
  3. Acetyl-L-carnitine. ...
  4. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). ...
  5. Acupuncture.


What are 3 things you should never do to the feet of someone with diabetes?

Avoid soaking your feet, as this can lead to dry skin. Dry your feet gently, especially between the toes. Moisturize your feet and ankles with lotion or petroleum jelly. Do not put oils or creams between your toes — the extra moisture can lead to infection.

How do you test for foot neuropathy?

Confirming if you have a neuropathy

a nerve conduction test (NCS), where small metal wires called electrodes are placed on your skin that release tiny electric shocks to stimulate your nerves; the speed and strength of the nerve signal is measured.

Is walking good for diabetic foot pain?

In diabetic condition, aerobic exercise such as walking is commonly recommended to improve glucose control and reduce microvascular and macrovascular complications7,8.


What are some common foot problems with diabetes?

The basics of foot complications
  • Neuropathy. Although it can hurt, diabetic nerve damage can also lessen your ability to feel pain, heat, and cold. ...
  • Skin changes. Diabetes can cause changes in the skin of your foot. ...
  • Calluses. ...
  • Poor circulation. ...
  • Foot ulcers. ...
  • Amputation.


Can diabetic foot be cured?

Diabetic foot infections are a frequent clinical problem. About 50% of patients with diabetic foot infections who have foot amputations die within five years. Properly managed most can be cured, but many patients needlessly undergo amputations because of improper diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

What are the 5 main symptoms of diabetic neuropathy?

Diabetic Polyneuropathy
  • Unusual sensations (paresthesias) such as tingling, burning or prickling.
  • Numbness and pain in the hands, legs and feet.
  • Weakness of the muscles in the feet and hands.
  • Sharp pains or cramps.
  • Extreme sensitivity to touch.
  • Insensitivity to pain or temperature changes.


What are the symptoms of diabetic nerve pain?

7 Warning Signs of Diabetic Nerve Pain
  • Numbness.
  • Sharp and burning pain.
  • Pins and needles pain.
  • Deformities on the foot (i.e. hammertoe)
  • Sores or blisters.
  • Sensitivity to touch.
  • Tingling or stabbing pain.


Can a diabetic foot Be Saved?

Diabetic foot infections are a frequent clinical problem. About 50% of patients with diabetic foot infections who have foot amputations die within five years. Properly managed most can be cured, but many patients needlessly undergo amputations because of improper diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

How do you feel when sugar level is high?

Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) means there is too much sugar in the blood because the body lacks enough insulin. Associated with diabetes, hyperglycemia can cause vomiting, excessive hunger and thirst, rapid heartbeat, vision problems and other symptoms. Untreated hyperglycemia can lead to serious health problems.


Why can't diabetics get pedicures?

Diabetes can make pedicures dangerous: Reduced circulation can make injuries and infections more likely, and take longer to heal. Peripheral neuropathy can reduce feeling in your feet, making you unable to tell if the technician is hurting you, or if a hot footbath is scalding you.

How do I stop diabetic foot pain at night?

Soak your feet in a warm bath to relax your nerves at night. Be sure to check the water temperature to avoid burning your feet. Exercise regularly. It increases blood flow and oxygen to your feet, reducing pain.

Can diabetic neuropathy go away on its own?

No, diabetic neuropathy can't be reversed (but the symptoms can be treated). Once the nerves have been damaged they cannot repair themselves.


Does foot massage help diabetics?

Benefits of Foot Massage for Diabetics

Helping to relax your body will assist in lowering your glucose levels, which can prevent these types of hyperglycemic ailments. Another benefit of diabetes massage is the increase in flexibility as the muscles are loosened.

Do I have diabetic foot?

Signs of Diabetic Foot Problems

Swelling in the foot or ankle. Pain in the legs. Open sores on the feet that are slow to heal or are draining. Ingrown toenails or toenails infected with fungus.

What is diabetic belly?

Diabetes Belly Fat is a sign that the body is failing. Stomach fat is linked to Heart failure in the diabetic. Lack of good insulin causes the body to store fat at the waist.


How long does diabetic foot last?

Diabetic foot ulcer is a feared complication of diabetes with a yearly incidence around 2–4% [1]. A diabetic foot ulcer has a variety of causes, often including peripheral ischemia, neuropathy or both. Ulcer healing takes weeks or months, and one-third of ulcers never heal with amputation as the consequence [2].

Why can't diabetics cut toenails?

Myth: People with diabetes can't cut their own toenails

Not true: the general advice on toenail cutting applies to everyone. If you have diabetes you should keep your nails healthy by cutting them to the shape of the end of your toes.