5 Treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is a serious condition that can cause many challenges, especially for your feet. If you suffer from diabetic neuropathy and don’t pay proper attention to your feet, you could experience serious problems that require a doctor’s care. But how is the condition itself treated? 

At Southwest Foot & Ankle in Scottsdale, Arizona, we offer not only treatments for the effects of diabetic neuropathy but also for its symptoms. There isn’t a cure, but some of these procedures can make living with diabetic neuropathy much easier. 

Our providers — Petrina C. Lewis, DPM, FACFAS, and Mark T. Lewis, DPM, FACFAS — want to make sure you can keep your feet as healthy as possible. This means managing diabetic neuropathy as part of a long-term treatment program. 

A crash course in diabetic neuropathy 

Diabetic neuropathy is found in about 10-20% of people when they’re first diagnosed with diabetes. Unfortunately, further research suggests that 41% of those who’ve been living with diabetes for 10 years will develop the condition. 

Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the nerves that send messages throughout your body. The nerves in your hands and feet are most likely to experience this damage, which means if you have a wound on your foot, you may not even feel it. This can lead to the wound not healing as quickly as it should and to improper care, creating more problems later on. 

Diabetic neuropathy can present with almost no symptoms at first, although it can create tingling, numbness, and pain as it worsens. So, even if you’re careful about your foot care, you may be wondering if there’s a treatment for the condition itself and what your podiatrist can do to help. Here are five treatment options we recommend.

1. At-home management

There are certain things you can do at home to manage this condition. You can keep your blood sugar under control by eating healthy, taking any medication you’ve been prescribed, and generally following the rules of diabetes management. 

Trying to keep your weight at a healthy level and exercising regularly can also help keep your blood sugar at a manageable level. This keeps your blood pressure low as well, which is helpful to your overall condition. If both your blood sugar and pressure levels are healthy, it won’t reverse the condition but it can slow its progress. 

2. Wound care 

Wound care is part of dealing with the condition’s effects. For many people with diabetic neuropathy, a foot wound requires medical intervention. Your wound might not heal properly without it. At Southwest Foot & Ankle, we offer everything from cleaning to stitches to skin grafting. 

3. Laser treatment

For some people, diabetic neuropathy causes nerve pain and discomfort. While not effective for all patients, laser treatment has been found to reduce pain in some with diabetic nerve damage. The laser beam stimulates the cells in your body, creating effects like proper blood flow through the area and allowing new capillaries to form. 

4. PRP treatment 

PRP involves taking your blood, separating out the platelet-rich plasma, and injecting it into your pain site. It can help manage pain and stimulate natural healing processes already present in your body. This can be a great option for diabetic neuropathy. It has a very low chance of infection because your own blood is being used.

5. Shockwave therapy 

Shockwave therapy uses sound instead of light like laser therapy. The concepts are similar: The sound waves help stimulate blood flow, increase new tissue production, and relieve pain. This, in turn, can minimize some of the symptoms associated with diabetic neuropathy and make living life with this condition easier. 

Diabetic neuropathy can’t be cured but it can be slowed and its symptoms managed. To learn more about your treatment options, make an appointment at Southwest Foot & Ankle today. Call our office at 480-900-7399 or schedule a visit online. We look forward to meeting you!