4 Tips For Managing Diabetic Pain

One of the uncomfortable symptoms that comes from long-standing or uncontrolled diabetes is peripheral neuropathy. People who live with peripheral neuropathy deal with burning, tingling or prickling sensations in their feet. While there is no miracle cure for these symptoms, you can try to follow these four tips to manage the pain and make everyday life easier.

Control Your Blood Sugar

The fundamental way to deal with peripheral neuropathy is to be careful about your blood sugar. A study by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases found that symptoms of diabetic nerve pain were reduced by 64% in patients that controlled their glucose levels.

There are several ways that you can lower your blood sugar and maintain that healthy level:

• Stay hydrated
• Get your required 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night
• Eat food with a low glycemic index
• Reduce your portion sizes
• Practice stress relief
• Seek out a registered dietician to assist with meal planning

Use Capsaicin Cream

Another way to manage peripheral neuropathy is to apply capsaicin cream on your feet and fingertips. The chemical capsaicin is what makes chili peppers so spicy.

Check with your doctor to get a prescription or buy an over-the-counter version at your nearest pharmacy. People who experience numbness in their extremities should be cautious when using this solution because they may not gauge the cream’s burning sensation properly.

Get Orthotics

When you deal with tingling and shooting pains in your feet, you should at least have comfortable shoes. The specialized cushioning and support of custom orthotics are good ways to minimize unpleasant sensations.

Don’t just pick up an insole from a pharmacy aisle — you should start looking for a foot clinic near you to find orthotics specifically designed to fit with your feet. Getting them made for your body will guarantee excellent results. A proper fit will also reduce your risk of developing common foot conditions like blisters and corns, which can lead to serious foot infections.

You can find orthotics and orthopaedic shoes at the Feet First Clinic. They also offer diabetic foot care treatments to respond to your circulatory or dermatological issues.

Go For A Dip In The Pool

Regular physical activity improves blood flow to the hands and feet. Many forms of exercise will feel inaccessible to people living with diabetes because they are painful to their joints and feet. Instead of going for a run around the block, you should hit the swimming pool.

Reuters Health reported that aquatic exercise is good for diabetics because it is easy on the joints and it has quick benefits when it comes to blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides. Aquatic exercise could be swimming laps in the pool or joining a water aerobics class. In addition to enhancing your physical health, a consistent exercise regimen can better your mental health.

The discomfort that is linked to diabetes can be overwhelming at times. Don’t get discouraged. Try these four techniques for managing pain and see what a difference they make in your life. Within months, you could find that your life has completely changed.