When you have high blood sugar, it can damage the nerves in your legs and cause sciatic nerve pain.There are a number of ways you can manage your symptoms.Taking a prescription medication according to your doctor's instructions is one way to relieve the pain in your feet.
Step 1: Take medication to control your blood sugar.
There isn't a way to cure or reverse diabetic nerve damage.Keeping your blood sugar well controlled can help prevent damage.If you don't know what to do, talk to your doctor about your options.There are a number of medications for managing blood sugar levels in diabetes.
Step 2: If you have nerve pain in your feet, try an anti-seizure medication.
If you have diabetes, your doctor may give you a prescription for an anti-seizure medication, such as pregabalin, gabapentin, or valproate.While they don't always work for everyone, these medications can help relieve some of the symptoms of diabetes.Side effects of pregabalin and gabapentin are drowsiness and clumsiness.If you need to adjust your dose, talk to your doctor.The amount of anti-seizure medication you use depends on your condition.It is important that you take your medication as directed by your doctor.drowsiness, dizziness, and swelling are some of the side effects of anti-seizure medications.
Step 3: You should get a prescription to manage your pain.
Your doctor may give you a prescription for an opiate if your nerve pain is persistent and severe.Several types of opioids, including dextromethorphan, morphine, tramadol, and oxycodone, have been shown to be very effective in decreasing or eliminating diabetic nerve pain in feet.Opioids can cause headaches, nausea, and can lead to dependency.It is important that you only take your pain medication as directed by your doctor.Ibuprofen is not an effective pain medication for nerve pain.Depending on the medication you take and the treatment plan your doctor prescribes, you can take prescription painkillers or not.
Step 4: Moderate relief from the pain in your feet can be achieved with an anti-depressant.
If you have chronic nerve pain from your diabetes but it isn't severe, your doctor may give you a prescription for an anti-depressant.Anti-depressants can help reduce the nerve pain in your feet, so that it is more manageable.The instructions for taking an anti-depressant for diabetic nerve pain depends on a number of factors.Refer to your doctor's instructions to determine when you should take your prescription and how much.The chemical processes in your brain that make you feel pain can be disrupted by anti-depressants.Amitriptyline, venlafaxine, and duloxetine are some of the anti-depressants that are commonly prescribed.There are some medications that can cause fatigue.Take your medication when you go to bed if you experience these effects.
Step 5: Your blood sugar level should be maintained to prevent and relieve nerve pain.
Keeping your levels in range is the best way to prevent and relieve nerve pain caused by high blood sugar.To keep your blood sugar within the range recommended by your doctor, adjust your diet as needed and check your diabetes monitoring device regularly.If you don't yet have a device to monitor your blood sugar, you should talk to your doctor to see what type of device they recommend.The target blood sugar range for most people is between 80 and 130/dL before meals and less than 180 after meals.
Step 6: Make sure your blood pressure stays under control.
Diabetes and high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels and reduce the flow of blood in your body, both of which can cause nerve pain.Because people with diabetes are more likely to have high blood pressure, it's important that you monitor it by going to the doctor regularly and getting a cuff at home.It's important that you talk to your doctor to find out what they recommend, because the target blood pressure range varies from one person to the next.The target blood pressure reading for most people is under 120/80.You can buy a blood pressure cuff online or at a drug store.
Step 7: Keep a healthy weight by exercising and eating well.
Maintaining a healthy weight can help relieve the nerve pain in your feet by improving your body's ability to control your blood sugar and increase blood circulation.If you fill up on healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, you will be able to manage the amount of pressure your body places on your feet.Aim to exercise for 150 minutes per week.If your diabetes nerve pain makes it hard to exercise, try short bursts.If your feet hurt too much to walk, exercising your arms and core can help reduce your pain over time.
Step 8: Don't smoke to keep circulation problems from getting worse.
Smoking can interfere with your body's circulation, which can limit the blood flow to your feet and make nerve pain worse.It is important that you do not smoke because it will make your feet feel worse.People with diabetes who smoke are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.If you want to quit smoking, you can use a tobacco aid, seek outside support or go cold turkey.
Step 9: It's possible to relieve nerve pain with a cream.
Make sure your skin is dry and clean.Apply a thin layer of capsaicin cream to the nerve area.If you want to avoid spreading the cream, wash your hands with soap and water.Capsaicin cream can cause irritation to the skin.Stop using the cream if this happens.Capsaicin is a compound found in peppers.This may or may not help alleviate nerve pain and numbness because it varies from one person to the next.
Step 10: Nerve stimulation therapy can help diminish your sense of pain.
If you have nerve pain in your feet from your diabetes, your doctor can give you transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy to try to reduce it.TENS therapy uses electrical impulses to prevent pain signals from reaching your brain.Doctors in a hospital or clinic administer TENS therapy.Depending on what your doctor decides to be the best course of action, the specific time and method for applying this therapy will vary.TENS therapy isn't always effective for treating diabetes in feet.
Step 11: You can try to get rid of the pain in your feet.
It doesn't work for everyone, but getting acupuncture treatments may help relieve nerve pain in your feet.You will need to get a lot of treatments in order for it to work.If you have health insurance, you should check to see if the treatments are covered.Several acupuncture treatments can cost a lot if you don't have insurance.
Step 12: Take supplements to see if they help with pain.
Taking vitamins B1 and alpha-lipoic acid can help reduce the pain in your feet.When combined with other treatments, they may be able to help with pain.There is some evidence that alpha-lipoic acid can help improve blood sugar levels, which may in turn help reduce symptoms such as pain and tingling in the feet.