If you have diabetes, walking for short distances may be a struggle. You may also struggle whenever you skip, jump, or stand. If you’re wondering why movement causes your feet pain, it could be because of damage to the nerves in your feet. Neuropathy or nerve damage is a common side effect of diabetes.
What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
Diabetes can result in long-term health problems. If you don’t control your blood sugar intake and your sugar remains high for years, you have an increased risk of developing diabetic neuropathy. Once you develop that condition, you may experience symptoms of diabetic nerve pain, which include the following:
Tingling or numbness in your fingers, hands, feet, and toes
Burning, aching, or sharp pain, which is diabetic nerve pain
Pain that spreads up your arms or legs; usually starts mild before it worsens over time
Poor quality of sleep because the pain from the damaged nerves keeps you awake
Poor quality of life because of the pain
Some develop depression from living with diabetic nerve pain
Why Are Your Feet Sensitive to Nerve Pain?
Depending on the stage of diabetic neuropathy, you may experience debilitating nerve pain, leaving your skin so sensitive that even the slightest touch can be unbearable. That’s because the damaged nerves in your feet make every sensation more acute.
What Can Help Your Condition?
For now, doctors have yet to find a way to restore damaged nerves resulting from diabetic neuropathy. However, there are ways to prevent the damage from getting worse. Most focus on easing the pain caused by the condition. You can use medications, physical therapy, and capsaicin cream, which blocks pain signals. However, the best way to prevent further pain is to manage your blood sugar levels. Keep it under control to prevent further nerve damage and nerve pain. Many treatments also help lessen the discomfort, so find which treatments work for you.
What About Diabetic Socks?
Those who struggle with diabetes benefit from using diabetic socks. These socks provide the following:
Prevent sweaty or moist feet. Do you often get sweaty or moist feet when you wear socks? Diabetic socks are made from materials that have moisture-wicking properties. That means the sweat dries off, so it doesn’t stay on your skin. That helps prevent moisture from resulting in wounds, sores, and open wounds that could lead to infection.
Protects against temperature changes. Diabetic neuropathy, especially when the condition is advanced, can lead to a loss of sensation in your legs and feet. Your feet may not even pick up on any temperature changes, which could lead to injuries. Wearing socks keeps your feet protected, so you won’t be exposed to extreme temperatures.
Easy to spot stains. Diabetic socks are available in light shades, so it’s easy for patients to spot stains. If there’s blood, you’ll know right away that you’re injured, and you can take immediate steps to treat the cure. That can prevent the onset of infection.
No elastic top. Diabetic socks have no elastic tops that abrade your skin and cause friction.
Padded soles. The soles provide cushion to ensure your comfort when you move around.