Diabetes can take a toll on every organ of your body if not controlled. Diabetic foot pain is one of the complications of severe, uncontrolled diabetes. First, diabetes restricts the blood flow to your feet, which then deprives them of nutrients and oxygen. The second complication is numbness of feet due to peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes. Diabetic foot pain or sores, when left untreated, may even lead to amputation of the limb.
Diabetic foot pain treatments are based on the severity of the condition and the causes. It is important to discuss diabetic foot pain and sores with your doctor in order to ensure it does not lead to serious complications. Most diabetics develop foot pain and ulcers, but good foot care measures can help prevent serious complications.
What causes diabetic foot pain?
Diabetic foot sores commonly occur under big toes and the balls of your feet. They are caused due to the breaking of skin tissue and exposure of layers underneath. Severe sores may even affect the bones of your feet. Infected foot sores may even lead to amputation of your feet.
First signs of foot sores are drainage from your feet, unusual swelling, redness or irritation, and bad odor from one or both feet. Diabetic foot pain and ulcers are mainly caused due to a lack of healthy blood flow to the feet. This blocked blood flow results in the formation of a black tissue that surrounds the ulcer. Diabetic foot pain is usually caused due to the following.
In some rare cases, foot ulcers may not show any symptoms.
Diabetic foot pain treatments and prevention
Diabetic foot pain treatments focus on timely identification of symptoms and prompt curative measures. Even before diabetics develop foot pain and other complications, it is better to stick to certain preventive measures. Proper foot care on a daily basis can go a long way in preventing diabetic foot pain and sores. Here a few simple tips for diabetic foot pain treatments and prevention.
Diabetic foot pain treatments aim at taking pressure off the feet and treating infections on feet. Special diabetic shoes are recommended for those with diabetic foot pain to take the pressure off the feet. Braces, foot casts, compression wraps, and shoe inserts for preventing corns and calluses are recommended by physicians. Debridement is performed by the doctor to remove the dead skin, foreign objects, or infections that may have caused the footsore. Other treatment measures for diabetic foot pain and ulcers are as follows:
Surgical intervention may be needed in severely damaged conditions, which may involve the removal of deformities or shaving down the bone.
As with any health disorder, staying active is extremely important to combat the complications of diabetes. Taking adequate preventive measures and timely diabetic foot pain treatments help in keeping serious complications at bay.