You can treat diabetic foot pain with insulin and other prescription drugs, but some drugs are often linked to different negative side effects that may only worsen your condition. Thankfully, you can try effective alternative treatments for diabetic foot pain that can be incorporated with your medication to avoid complications like amputation.
Alternative remedies for diabetic neuropathy
Most individuals with diabetes suffer from a loss of sensation and touch which makes it hard to feel itching, pain, tickling, and warmth in the affected areas of the foot. The alternative remedies listed below can help ease foot pain naturally.
Acupuncture
Consult a local acupuncturist or ask a healthcare professional for a referral to a licensed acupuncture practitioner. Acupuncture is a recognized alternative treatment that can help minimize the symptoms linked to diabetic foot pain and diabetic neuropathy.
Acupuncture may help improve blood circulation in the body, which is important for individuals with diabetes, especially those with complaints about foot pain and neuropathy. Acupuncture can help improve circulation and this can help delay the onset of debilitating diabetic complications and symptoms of foot pain like tenderness and swelling.
Osteopathy
The American Medical Association accepts osteopathy as an effective method for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions like diabetes and diabetic foot pain. A Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) is a medical physician who "utilizes the concept of manipulation and body-based practices to address many of the organic problems in diabetic patients."
The manual manipulation of the affected diabetic foot and leg can help increase the blood circulation to the affected areas since it can align the ligaments, muscles, and tendons to alleviate the pressure and compression on the foot.
Manual manipulation in osteopathy refers to the use of the hands to help reduce various symptoms. This is done via techniques such as:
- Body-based practices (e.g., acupuncture, physical therapy principles, and rolfing techniques [a form of deep tissue massage])
- Massage therapy
- Trigger/pressure points massage
Proper diet and regular exercise
Other ways to care for your feet include following a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Physical activity can help increase blood circulation and prevent blood stasis and swelling in the affected areas of the foot. Related: TCM herbs found to be safe and very effective for treating “diabetic foot” (neuropathy): Meta-analysis and review.)
Take care of your hands and feet
Since diabetic nerve damage causes pain and affects the ability to feel pain, you need to prioritize your foot health. You have a higher risk of developing foot infections if you have diabetes and untreated infections may result in serious complications such as amputation.
Care for your feet by following the tips below:
- Check your feet daily for any cuts, sores, swelling, or other problems, even if you don’t feel any pain.
- Keep your feet covered with shoes, slippers, or thick socks to cushion them and avoid injuries.
- Wash your feet every day with warm water, then dry them completely when you're done. Apply a lotion to keep your feet moisturized, but don't get any lotion in between your toes.
- Wear comfortable flexible shoes that are roomy enough so your feet can move. If you have a new pair of shoes, break them in slowly so they don’t hurt your feet. If regular shoes don’t fit well, consult a healthcare professional about customized shoes.
Yoga and meditation
Practice yoga and meditation to help manage your stress and eliminate tension. These methods can also help boost your immunity so you can fight off infections and illnesses more effectively. If you have diabetes, you need to relieve stress because it can worsen your symptoms. Additionally, stress can negatively affect your emotional and psychological health.
If you suffer from diabetic foot pain and neuropathy, try some of these alternative remedies to take care of your feet and avoid the serious medical complications linked to diabetes.
You can read more articles about effective alternative treatments for diabetic foot pain at DiabetesScienceNews.com.
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