Diabetes causes tremendous changes in your body, especially in your extremities, including your feet. One of those changes is nerve impairment, which can cause painful diabetic nerve pain, called neuropathy. Proper diabetic foot care and diabetes management can help prevent diabetic neuropathy. Your podiatrist can tell you more.

Dr. Gregory Cardinal at Podiatrist in Motion in Alexandria, VA, provides a wide range of podiatry services, including diabetic foot care and treatment of neuropathy. He proudly serves residents of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Reston, Leesburg, and Warrenton, VA, and surrounding areas including Washington, DC, and Maryland.

What You Need To Know About Neuropathy and Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes affects nervous system function, which can cause you to lose sensation in your feet and toes. You may injure your feet and toes and not feel the injury. Conversely, nerve impairment can make you feel pain more acutely, resulting in the uncomfortable condition known as diabetic neuropathy.

There are several ways you can protect your feet and toes, to guard against diabetic neuropathy. Remember to:

• Always wear protective, comfortable shoes, and don’t go barefoot
• Don’t use very hot water, electric blankets, or walk on hot surfaces
• Check your feet often for sores, blisters, or cuts
• Apply antibiotic cream to open sores, blisters, or cuts and bandage them to prevent infection

You need to also make sure to visit your podiatrist regularly for a professional examination of your feet. Your podiatrist can identify potential issues and treat them before they can turn into painful conditions like neuropathy. Your podiatrist may recommend:

• Topical medications or pain-relieving patches
• Oral medications including anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, or anticonvulsants
• Wearing an electrical device like a TENS unit which can block pain signals
• Anesthesia injections to block nerve pain
• Surgical options for relief of severe nerve pain

Want To Know More?

To find out more about the connection between diabetic foot care and neuropathy, and how your podiatrist can help your feet, call Dr. Gregory Cardinal at Podiatrist in Motion in Alexandria, VA, serving residents of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Reston, Leesburg, Warrenton, VA, and surrounding areas including Washington, DC, and Maryland. You can reach him in the office by calling (703) 879-5155, so call today.