Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by high blood sugar over time, usually starting as numbness, tingling or burning in the toes and feet. Good blood sugar control helps prevent it and slow it. For painful diabetic neuropathy, the American Diabetes Association recommends pregabalin or duloxetine as first-line medicines.
Symptoms
- Numbness, tingling, burning or stabbing pain in the feet, often worse at night
- Loss of feeling, so cuts and blisters go unnoticed
- Balance problems
Burning, numb or tingling feet for months? Get the free guide and a doctor review of your scan.
Treatment
- Blood sugar control: the foundation
- Check vitamin B12, especially if you take metformin
- Medicines: pregabalin, duloxetine, gabapentin, amitriptyline
- Daily foot checks and good footwear: foot care
- Exercise: walking, balance work
- Newer options: a small randomised trial found PRP injected around nerves reduced pain in diabetic neuropathy; stem cells are early research
Warning
Any foot wound that is not healing needs prompt medical attention.