The most important thing a person can do to prevent or reduce the impact of diabetic peripheral neuropathy is to manage their blood sugar levels as best they can. Good blood sugar management can help prevent leg pain and reduce the risk of experiencing additional complications.
Your feet and legs are often affected first, followed by your hands and arms. Possible signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include: Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain or temperature changes, especially in your feet and toes. A tingling or burning feeling.
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.
Walking: Take a brisk daily walk of 1/2 - 1 hour. Try to increase the distance every day. Staircase exercise: Walk briskly up a flight of stairs using only the balls of the feet. Stretching the calf muscles: Lean with the palms of your hands against a wall.
Walking is one of the easiest activities to start with, and most people with diabetes can do it. The risk of injury is low, and even people with diabetes complications can usually walk for exercise. (Check with your health care provider if you have a foot injury, open sore, or ulcer.)
Exercise to benefit problem areas
If you are having circulation problems, choose exercises that focus on that part of the body. If circulation is poor in your feet, walking gets blood moving in your toes, feet, ankles and legs. If you can't get outside, target your lower body with squats, leg lifts and calf raises.
Diabetic neuropathy has no known cure.
Pain in your legs or cramping in your buttocks, thighs, or calves during physical activity. 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.
But when it comes to leg pain caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy, the damage is usually permanent and irreversible. This is why blood sugar control, weight management, and other preventative treatment is so important.
But that doesn't mean abdominal weight gain should be ignored. It can be an early sign of so-called "diabetic belly," a build-up of visceral fat in your abdomen which may be a symptom of type 2 diabetes and can increase your chances of developing other serious medical conditions.
Nerve damage or diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one of the long-term complication of diabetes. If left untreated, the damage caused by neuropathy can potentially lead to infection and limb amputation.
Diabetes frequently causes discoloration of the feet, ankles or even lower legs. Discoloration may appear dark red purple or blue, which indicates poor circulation in the lower vascular system.
Those with pre-diabetes may experience a condition called peripheral neuropathy, which can cause loss of sensation or numbness in the feet. As with any diabetic condition, the more quickly the problem is addressed, the greater the chance of recovery. Consult with a Foot Care Specialist.
It is not possible to reverse diabetic neuropathy. However, a person can take steps to slow down the progression of the condition and manage symptoms.
What does diabetes itching feel like? If you have diabetes, itching can be intense. It's an irritating feeling that makes it hard not to scratch, but scratching can make the itch worse. You can itch anywhere, but if you have nerve damage (neuropathy) associated with diabetes, your lower legs may itch.
You can improve your poor circulation symptoms in these ways: Exercise. Eat a healthy diet. Quit smoking.