Smoking can Diabetic neuropathy foot care the amount of blood Diaebtic to your feet. To receive Mediterranean diet and food sustainability about diabetes neuropaty, enter Peppermint toothpaste email address: Email Address. When neiropathy see a doctor. Midodrine and droxidopa are approved by the FDA for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension. Major clinical manifestations of diabetic autonomic neuropathy include hypoglycemia unawareness, resting tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension, gastroparesis, constipation, diarrhea, fecal incontinence, erectile dysfunction, neurogenic bladder, and sudomotor dysfunction with either increased or decreased sweating.

Diabetic neuropathy foot care -

Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days. Check your blood sugar as many times each day as your doctor recommends. Take and record your blood pressure at home if your doctor tells you to. To take your blood pressure at home: Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure monitor to be sure it is accurate and the cuff fits you.

Also ask your doctor to watch you to make sure that you are using it right. Do not use medicine known to raise blood pressure such as some nasal decongestant sprays before taking your blood pressure. Avoid taking your blood pressure if you have just exercised or are nervous or upset.

Rest at least 15 minutes before you take a reading. Do not smoke. Smoking can increase your chance for a heart attack or stroke. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines.

These can increase your chances of quitting for good. If you drink alcohol, try to drink less. Your risk of harm from alcohol is low if you have 2 drinks or less per week. Work with your doctor to find what is right for you.

Eat small meals often, rather than 2 or 3 large meals a day. To care for your feet Prevent injury by wearing shoes at all times, even when you are indoors.

Do foot care as part of your daily routine. Wash your feet and then rub lotion on your feet, but not between your toes. Use a hand-held mirror or magnifying mirror to inspect your feet for blisters, cuts, cracks, or sores.

Have your toenails trimmed and filed straight across. Wear shoes and socks that fit well. Soft shoes that have good support and that fit well such as tennis shoes are best for your feet. Check your shoes for any loose objects or rough edges before you put them on.

Ask your doctor to check your feet during each visit. Your doctor may notice a foot problem you have missed. Get early treatment for any foot problem, even a minor one. Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if: You have symptoms of infection, such as: Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.

Red streaks leading from the area. Pus draining from the area. A fever. You have new or worse numbness, pain, or tingling in any part of your body. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if: You have a new problem with your feet, such as: a new sore or ulcer.

A break in the skin that is not healing after several days. Bleeding corns or calluses. An ingrown toenail. You do not get better as expected. Current as of: March 1, Home About MyHealth. ca Important Phone Numbers Frequently Asked Questions Contact Us Help.

About MyHealth. Good blood sugar management may even improve some of your current symptoms. Your health care provider will figure out the best target range for you based on factors including your age, how long you've had diabetes and your overall health.

Blood sugar levels need to be individualized. But, in general, the American Diabetes Association ADA recommends the following target blood sugar levels for most people with diabetes:. The American Diabetes Association ADA generally recommends an glycated hemoglobin A1C of 7.

Mayo Clinic encourages slightly lower blood sugar levels for most younger people with diabetes, and slightly higher levels for older people with other medical conditions and who may be more at risk of low blood sugar complications.

Mayo Clinic generally recommends the following target blood sugar levels before meals:. Other important ways to help slow or prevent neuropathy from getting worse include keeping your blood pressure under control, maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular physical activity.

Many prescription medications are available for diabetes-related nerve pain, but they don't work for everyone. When considering any medication, talk to your health care provider about the benefits and possible side effects to find what might work best for you.

Some antidepressants ease nerve pain, even if you aren't depressed. Tricyclic antidepressants may help with mild to moderate nerve pain. Drugs in this class include amitriptyline, nortriptyline Pamelor and desipramine Norpramin. Side effects can be bothersome and include dry mouth, constipation, drowsiness and difficulty concentrating.

These medications may also cause dizziness when changing position, such as from lying down to standing orthostatic hypotension. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs are another type of antidepressant that may help with nerve pain and have fewer side effects.

The ADA recommends duloxetine Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle as a first treatment. Another that may be used is venlafaxine Effexor XR. Possible side effects include nausea, sleepiness, dizziness, decreased appetite and constipation.

Sometimes, an antidepressant may be combined with an anti-seizure drug. These drugs can also be used with pain-relieving medication, such as medication available without a prescription.

For example, you may find relief from acetaminophen Tylenol, others or ibuprofen Advil, Motrin IB, others or a skin patch with lidocaine a numbing substance. To manage complications, you may need care from different specialists.

These may include a specialist who treats urinary tract problems urologist and a heart specialist cardiologist who can help prevent or treat complications.

Low blood pressure on standing orthostatic hypotension. Treatment starts with simple lifestyle changes, such as not using alcohol, drinking plenty of water, and changing positions such as from sitting to standing slowly. Sleeping with the head of the bed raised 4 to 6 inches helps prevent high blood pressure overnight.

Your health care provider may also recommend compression support for your abdomen and thighs abdominal binder and compression shorts or stockings. Several medications, either alone or together, may be used to treat orthostatic hypotension. Be active every day. Exercise helps lower blood sugar, improves blood flow and keeps your heart healthy.

Aim for minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous exercise. It's also a good idea to take a break from sitting every 30 minutes to get a few quick bursts of activity. Talk with your health care provider or physical therapist before you start exercising.

If you have decreased feeling in your legs, some types of exercise, such as walking, may be safer than others. If you have a foot injury or sore, stick with exercise that doesn't require putting weight on your injured foot.

There are many alternative therapies that may help with pain relief on their own or in combination with medications. But check with your health care provider before using any alternative therapy or dietary supplement to make sure that you don't have any potential interactions.

Living with diabetic neuropathy can sometimes be challenging. Support groups can offer encouragement and advice about living with diabetic neuropathy. Ask your health care provider if there are any in your area, or for a referral to a therapist.

The ADA offers online support through its website. If you find yourself feeling depressed, it may help to talk to a counselor or therapist. If you don't already see a specialist in treating metabolic disorders and diabetes endocrinologist , you'll likely be referred to one if you start showing signs of diabetes complications.

You may also be referred to a specialist in brain and nervous system problems neurologist. On this page. Self care. Alternative medicine. Coping and support. Preparing for your appointment.

Your health care provider typically checks your: Overall muscle strength and tone Tendon reflexes Sensitivity to touch, pain, temperature and vibration Along with the physical exam, your health care provider may perform or order specific tests to help diagnose diabetic neuropathy, such as: Filament testing.

A soft nylon fiber monofilament is brushed over areas of your skin to test your sensitivity to touch. Sensory testing. This noninvasive test is used to tell how your nerves respond to vibration and changes in temperature.

Nerve conduction testing. This test measures how quickly the nerves in your arms and legs conduct electrical signals. Called needle testing, this test is often done along with nerve conduction studies.

It measures electrical discharges produced in your muscles. Autonomic testing. Special tests may be done to determine how your blood pressure changes while you are in different positions, and whether your sweating is within the standard range.

More Information. Electromyography EMG. Diabetic neuropathy has no known cure. The goals of treatment are to: Slow progression Relieve pain Manage complications and restore function. Slowing progression of the disease Consistently keeping your blood sugar within your target range is the key to preventing or delaying nerve damage.

Relieving pain Many prescription medications are available for diabetes-related nerve pain, but they don't work for everyone. Pain-relieving prescription treatments may include: Anti-seizure drugs.

Some medications used to treat seizure disorders epilepsy are also used to ease nerve pain. The ADA recommends starting with pregabalin Lyrica.

Gabapentin Gralise, Neurontin also is an option. Side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, and swelling in the hands and feet. Managing complications and restoring function To manage complications, you may need care from different specialists. The treatment you'll need depends on the neuropathy-related complications you have: Urinary tract problems.

Some drugs affect bladder function, so your health care provider may recommend stopping or changing medications. A strict urination schedule or urinating every few hours timed urination while applying gentle pressure to the bladder area below your bellybutton can help some bladder problems.

Other methods, including self-catheterization, may be needed to remove urine from a nerve-damaged bladder. Digestive problems. To relieve mild signs and symptoms of gastroparesis — indigestion, belching, nausea or vomiting — eating smaller, more frequent meals may help.

Diet changes and medications may help relieve gastroparesis, diarrhea, constipation and nausea. Sexual dysfunction.

Medications taken by mouth or injection may improve sexual function in some men, but they aren't safe and effective for everyone.

Mechanical vacuum devices may increase blood flow to the penis. Women may benefit from vaginal lubricants. Request an appointment. These measures can help you feel better overall and reduce your risk of diabetic neuropathy: Keep your blood pressure under control.

If you have high blood pressure and diabetes, you have an even greater risk of complications. Try to keep your blood pressure in the range your health care provider recommends, and be sure to have it checked at every office visit.

Make healthy food choices. Eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of healthy foods — especially vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Limit portion sizes to help achieve or maintain a healthy weight. Stop smoking. Using tobacco in any form makes you more likely to develop poor circulation in your feet, which can cause problems with healing.

If you use tobacco, talk to your health care provider about finding ways to quit. For diabetic neuropathy, you may want to try: Capsaicin. Capsaicin cream, applied to the skin, can reduce pain sensations in some people.

Side effects may include a burning feeling and skin irritation. Alpha-lipoic acid. This powerful antioxidant is found in some foods and may help relieve nerve pain symptoms in some people. This nutrient is naturally made in the body and is available as a supplement.

It may ease nerve pain in some people. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation TENS. This prescription therapy may help prevent pain signals from reaching the brain.

Neuropatht problems most often happen Glucose monitoring system there is nerve damage, also called neuropathy. This Mediterranean diet and food sustainability cause tingling, pain burning or stinging neuro;athy, or weakness in the Mediterranean diet and food sustainability. It can also cause loss of feeling in the foot, so you can injure it and not know it. Poor blood flow or changes in the shape of your feet or toes may also cause problems. Take good care of your feet and see your doctor right away if you see any signs of foot problems.

Diabetic neuropathy foot care -

Diabetic foot care is essential as diabetes can be dangerous to your feet—even a small cut can produce serious consequences. Diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet.

Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection. Because of these problems, you may not notice a foreign object in your shoe. As a result, you could develop a blister or a sore.

This could lead to an infection or a nonhealing wound that could put you at risk for an amputation. To avoid serious foot problems that could result in losing a toe, foot or leg, follow these guidelines.

Inspect your feet daily. Check for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling or nail problems. Use a magnifying hand mirror to look at the bottom of your feet. Call your doctor if you notice anything.

Bathe feet in lukewarm, never hot, water. Keep your feet clean by washing them daily. Use only lukewarm water—the temperature you would use on a newborn baby. Be gentle when bathing your feet. Wash them using a soft washcloth or sponge. Dry by blotting or patting and carefully dry between the toes.

Moisturize your feet but not between your toes. Use a moisturizer daily to keep dry skin from itching or cracking. Encourage your patients to ask for a basic foot check at every health care visit. Tell your patients that: Diabetes-related complications can start in their feet and may not cause recognizable symptoms.

A basic foot check at every health care visit, combined with annual comprehensive foot exams, can help identify problems early.

Patients with poorly managed blood sugar or high blood pressure may benefit from having their feet checked more often, such as every 3 or 6 months. Common Changes in Foot Health. Feelings of tingling, burning, or numbness or the sensation of bugs crawling on the skin.

Puncture wounds,ulcers, redness, or new foot pain. Corns, calluses, toenail deformity, or bleeding beneath the nail. Changes infoot shape, walking with a limp, or foot swelling. Shoes no longer fitting. Prevent Diabetes Complications Take Charge of Your Diabetes: Healthy Feet Diabetes Awareness : Keep Your Appointment.

Keep Your Feet. Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention LEAP. Barnes JA, Eid MA, Creager MA, Goodney PP. Epidemiology and risk of amputation in patients with diabetes mellitus and peripheral artery d Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol.

Accessed September 21, National Diabetes Statistics Report, Updated August 28, You can also lower your risk of developing foot problems by examining your feet regularly. This way, if problems do occur, you are more likely to notice them right away so you can get the proper treatment.

It may take time and effort to build good foot care habits, but it is an essential part of diabetes management. This article will discuss the foot-related complications that can happen in people with diabetes, as well as guidelines for good foot care and tips for lowering your risk of developing these problems.

Other diabetes-related complications are discussed separately. See "Patient education: Preventing complications from diabetes Beyond the Basics ". Over time, diabetes that is not carefully managed can lead to foot complications.

You have an increased risk of developing foot problems if you have:. If you have any of these risk factors discussed in more detail below , particularly a previous foot ulcer, you may be at increased risk of foot problems if you take medications called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 SGLT2 inhibitors to manage your blood sugar.

SGLT2 inhibitors, particularly canagliflozin, may increase your risk of requiring toe amputations. Your health care provider can talk to you about other medication options. Past foot ulcer — Once you have had a foot ulcer, even if it heals completely, you are at an increased risk of developing ulcers again in the future.

Nerve damage — Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the nerves that carry sensation; this nerve damage is known as "diabetic neuropathy. Nerve damage can also weaken certain foot muscles and contribute to foot deformities.

See 'Signs of nerve damage' below and "Patient education: Diabetic neuropathy Beyond the Basics ". Foot deformity — Abnormalities in the shape of the toes, arches, or bottoms of the feet can raise the risk of complications. See 'Deformities' below.

Poor circulation — Longstanding high blood sugar levels can cause damage to the blood vessels, decreasing blood flow to the feet. Poor circulation can weaken the skin, contribute to the formation of foot ulcers, and impair wound healing.

Some bacteria and fungi thrive on high levels of sugar in the bloodstream; if a wound gets infected, this can break down the skin and make ulcers worse. See 'Signs of poor circulation' below. More serious complications include deep skin and bone infections.

Gangrene decay and death of tissue is a very serious complication; widespread gangrene may require amputation. Approximately 5 percent of people with diabetes eventually require amputation of a toe or foot.

However, this can be prevented in most situations by managing blood sugar levels and committing to daily foot care. Regular foot exams to check for problems or changes are a critical part of managing your diabetes. Self-exams — It is important to examine your feet every day, especially if you have any of the major risk factors for foot problems.

This should include looking carefully at all parts of your feet, especially the area between the toes. Look for broken skin, ulcers, blisters, areas of increased warmth or redness, or changes in callus formation; let your health care provider know if you notice if any of these changes or have any concerns.

See 'Risk factors' above. It may help to make the foot exam a part of your daily bathing or dressing routine. You might need to use a mirror to see the bottoms of your feet clearly. If you are unable to reach your feet or see them completely, even with a mirror, ask another person such as a family member to help you.

Clinical exams — During your routine medical visits, your health care provider will check the blood flow and sensation in your feet. The frequency of these clinical exams will depend on which type of diabetes you have:. During a foot exam, your health care provider will check for poor circulation, nerve damage, skin changes, and deformities.

They will also ask you about any problems you have noticed in your feet. An exam can check for decreased or absent reflexes or decreased ability to sense pressure, vibration, pin pricks, and changes in temperature. Special devices, including a monofilament or tuning fork, can help determine the extent of nerve damage.

A monofilament is a very thin, flexible thread that is used to determine if you are able to sense pressure in different parts of the foot. A tuning fork is used to determine you can sense vibration in different areas, especially the foot and toe joints. What to look for — You and your health care provider can look for certain signs and symptoms that could indicate problems with your feet.

Skin changes or wounds — Excessive skin dryness, scaling, and cracking may be signs of problems. Other skin changes to look for include calluses, broken skin between the toes, and ulcers.

Ulcers can start out as sores affecting just the top layer of skin picture 1 , but if left untreated, they can go deeper into the skin and muscle. Signs of nerve damage — Nerve damage may lead to unusual sensations in the feet and legs, including pain, burning, tingling, or numbness.

Over years, if nerve damage becomes advanced, the foot and leg can eventually lose sensation completely. This can be very dangerous because if you cannot feel pain, you may not notice if your shoes do not fit properly, if you have something in your shoe that could cause irritation, or if you have injured your foot.

Deformities — The structure and appearance of the feet and foot joints can indicate diabetes-related complications. Nerve damage can lead to joint and other foot deformities.

The toes may have a peculiar "claw toe" appearance picture 2 , and the foot arch and other bones may appear collapsed. This destruction of the bones and joints is called "Charcot arthropathy" picture 3.

Signs of poor circulation — A weak pulse, cold feet, thin or blue skin, and lack of hair in the area suggest that your feet are not getting enough blood flow. There are several things you can do to reduce your chances of developing foot problems.

Foot care is Snake envenomation diagnosis methods important if you have diabetes. Your Diabetic neuropathy foot care can be affected in Daibetic ways. Blood crae may be affected, neurppathy in slower healing. You may also lose some feeling in your Diabetic neuropathy foot care due to nerve damage. A person whose nerves are damaged by diabetes may not realise they have minor cuts or blisters, which can lead to ulcers. Foot problems can be avoided if you take care of your feet and act quickly when you have a problem. Get your feet checked at least once a year by a doctor or podiatrist to detect problems early and help prevent complications.