Diabetic Foot Pain Treatment Diagnosis

What is Diabetic Foot Pain?

When you have diabetes, you are constantly living with high blood sugar levels. The problem is that over the long term, these elevated levels can deteriorate and damage nerves. Specifically, the nerves that are most susceptible are in the hands and feet. Once these nerves break down, it causes the pain you may be feeling.

What are the Symptoms of Diabetic Foot Pain?

It’s important to understand that diabetic foot pain is going to differ significantly from ordinary pain as you’d experience with a headache, for example. The most common symptoms include the following:

Pain that is…

• Burning
• Radiating
• Shooting
• Shock-like
• Numbing
• Sensitive to touch
• Pins and needles

Pain that is felt in the…

• Hands
• Feet

Causes of Diabetic Foot Pain

With consistent high levels of blood sugar, the result is nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy. It is from this peripheral neuropathy that you feel the symptoms mentioned above.

Diagnosing Diabetic Foot Pain

If you are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above, schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately. Your doctor will properly assess your symptoms with a physical exam. This is something you should continue to have performed every year. Your doctor may also perform a monofilament test to test the extent of the nerve damage.