Nobody likes pain. Nobody wants their feet to burn, tingle, ache, or go numb in random places. Unfortunately, if you have diabetes, that could be a fact of your life. You already know that you need to take care of your feet to protect them. Washing them daily, checking for injuries, and staying in contact with your doctors are important factors in keeping your feet healthy. But what about the nerve pain? The good news is you don’t have to suffer—there are things you can do at home to help manage your neuropathy.

Exercise gets your blood pumping and moving through your body. Blood flowing through your feet means more oxygen and healing nutrients reach your nerves. You don’t have to spend hours doing it for it to benefit you, either. Walking is great exercise and a good place to start without putting too much extra stress on your feet. Water aerobics and swimming also get your blood moving, but are gentler on your feet. Balance techniques are great, too—they slowly strengthen your muscles.

Also, don’t underestimate the effects of eating right and sleeping well. Eating a healthy variety of foods and sleeping enough helps your body repair itself. There seems to be a connection between nerve pain and smoking and drinking, too, so cutting those habits down, or even out completely, can help reduce your discomfort. All of these actions help you manage your diabetes as well—and controlled blood sugar levels don’t damage nerves!

Pain in your nerves doesn’t have to hold you back. If you notice a change in your feet or are experiencing foot pain, don’t wait and let it get worse. Contact us at Parker Foot & Ankle in Houston today to take care of your feet. They will thank you for it! You can request an appointment online or call the office at (281) 497-2850.