What Does Diabetic Foot Pain Feel Like?

Diabetic Foot Pain and What to Look For

Diabetes is a medical condition that prevents the body from digesting and breaking down sugar. While some diabetics take pills such as metformin to control their sugar levels, others use insulin. The condition often causes nerve pain, which can feel like pins and needles and cause some numbness. The chances are good that you will also experience some foot pain. Find out the top diabetic foot symptoms and how you can relieve them before speaking with your doctor.

Common Pains

Neuropathy is a medical term that refers to general nerve pain that affects one area of the body or multiple areas. It can occur because of the medication you take and any other diseases you have as well as a lack of vitamins in your diet. Peripheral neuropathy often leads to both numbness and pain. It often affects your feet and legs but can also impact your fingers and arms. The biggest danger of peripheral neuropathy is that the numbness makes it hard for you to look after any injuries you have. It’s often helpful to talk with your doctor at the first sign of numbness.

Roughly half of all diabetics suffer from peripheral neuropathy. While some learn to control it with diet and exercise, others find that they need to take special medications just to sleep through the night. This condition can relate to the pain that you feel around the balls of your feet, especially if you walk or spend a lot of time on your feet. Wearing the right shoes will reduce some of the pressure on your feet. Therapeutic shoes come in styles for men and women. Get even more out of your shoes with good arch support from products like the Cadence EX and Pro Tech ¾ to beat your symptoms.

Wearing the wrong shoes and not having proper arch support can also increase your risk of plantar fasciitis. The pain usually starts when you get up and are active after sitting or lying in the same position. You usually notice a sharp pain in the heel of your foot, though some find that it starts around the balls of their feet.
Keep in mind that diabetic foot symptoms often relate to your poor circulation. If you spend a lot of time sitting on the couch or at your desk, the tissues in your feet and legs cannot get the oxygen they need. You might feel a strangling sensation as if someone squeezes your legs. It can also cause numbness that feels as though your lower body fell asleep.

What Are the Signs of Diabetic Feet?

The foot pain that diabetics experience will differ from person to person. It often depends on how high your blood sugar level runs and whether you suffer from any related conditions. The pain ranges from mild to quite intense. While it’s easy to deal with mild pain, you might have trouble sleeping because your feet hurt so bad. Some diabetics even find that the pain wakes them up a few times in the middle of the night.

Another sign of diabetic foot pain is a change in color. If you have poor circulation, your lower legs may turn a pale shade of blue. There is also a chance that your veins will appear brighter against your skin. Fungal infections are common among diabetics and can affect both your skin and nails. You can also check your foot for temperature changes. When the skin feels colder or warmer than your other body parts, it may go along with your foot pain. Other signs to watch out for include:
• Inflammation in your ankles and/or feet
• Unusual odors
• Dry skin and cracks around your heels
• Sores that take longer to heal than they should

How to Care for Your Feet

Talking to a doctor about the importance of foot care in diabetes will help you understand the risks you have of developing fungal infections and other conditions. Before you worry too much, keep in mind that there are some great remedies for diabetic foot pain relief. CARESS Anti-Fungal Cuticle Oil is easy to apply and soaks into your nails to treat infections from within. With Clean Sweep Antimicrobial Shoe Shield, you simply spray a small amount on the inside of your shoes to kill germs and bacteria.

It’s also helpful to wear the right supportive gear, especially if you suffer from circulation problems. The Compression Foot Sleeve adds just the right amount of compression to keep blood pumping through your legs. You’ll also find Mild Support Socks that are perfect for wearing as you lounge around the house and when you’re at work. While the chances are high that you will experience some diabetic foot symptoms, you can relieve them and get the comfort you need during the day or night.

Debbie McDaniel

09:38 22 Oct 18

The staff were wonderful, very patient and helpful with selecting a proper pair of shoes. Even when I had an issue with a pair of shoes I bought weeks later, the store realized the issue was a manufacturing defect and promptly reordered another pair. I also tried their medical foot spa which was a an awesome experience. The nail technician was very friendly and knowledgeable and welcoming. 5 ðŸŒŸ service all around. Highly recommend active foot store in San Diego.

Ivy Bell

10:05 15 Oct 18

Life Changing! I have struggled for over 15 years with a foot problem. I was referred to Connie at your Costa Verde location. Connie used a process to map my feet. It took a few weeks to adjust to the orthotics but it has been worth it. I have been pain free for about 4 months now. But that's just the start of the story. I have been able to return back to walking and exercises. I've lost over 20 lbs, lowered my A1c(blood sugar), lowered my Blood Pressure, and overall increased my health! I have been able to do things that I haven't been able to do in over 15 years. If that's not life changing, I don't know what else to call it. Oh, and today, I ordered two more sets to be built so I can rotate them. Thank you so much, Connie and Dr Cruse

Donna Speth

12:15 28 Sep 18

Thank you Dr. Reingold and all your staff, I appreciate your incredible patience and support. This whole process was so important to my quality of life. I never knew until now how important it is to have happy feet!!I didn't put it together how my feet could make my hip and back hurt, so all this time I was treating the symptom vs. the cause. I'm so grateful that you helped me work it all out!!

Tan Ripplinger

09:37 13 Aug 18

My podiatrist recommended the store well over eight years ago. I was fitted with orthotics to aid in my foot fuss that consists of bunions and hammer toes. I then have bought only quality shoes with good support from Active Foot Store. I had an additional pair of orthotics made and have never looked back. My job requires me to be on my feet, sometimes on concrete for up to 8 hours a day. I have happy feet and this translates to a happy employee. The staff have always been friendly. Connie, Pert and Katherine have always treated me with respect. Their concern is for my comfort and I truly appreciate that.

Keri Bryant

11:22 17 Aug 18

I went to Active Foot Store on the advice from my Kaiser podiatrist. I have foot fuss. This includes bunions and hammer toes. I was fitted for orthotics and have never looked back. This was well over eight years ago. Since then, I have had an additional pair of orthotics made and have only worn the high quality shoes that Active Foot Store sells. They provide support and are stylish as well. I remember the doctor comparing my feet to the tires on my car - meaning that we need to change out our shoes far more frequently than we think. He was absolutely correct. I have happy feet all the time. The staff are very pleasant and I highly recommend Active Foot Store for anyone who takes the care of their feet seriously. They are professional, courteous and even have a sense of humor to boot.