Diabetes is a chronic health condition in which your body breaks down food into sugar rather than energy and does not make enough insulin. Diabetes is called a silent killer as sugar in the blood highly affects the liver and other functions of the body. It also leads to heart attack and damage to nerves and muscles.

Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that is caused by diabetes. If blood sugar levels are not well controlled over time, it can affect various body parts, causing symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling in the edges of hands and feet. While there is no exact cure for diabetic neuropathy yet, you can take diabetic neuropathy self-care measures that can help to control the symptoms and prevent further complications. Here are some diabetic neuropathy treatment tips:

1.    Blood Sugar Control

As diabetes is directly associated with food intake, the most critical diabetic neuropathy self-care tip is to maintain tight control over your diet to control blood sugar levels. Religiously follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for medications and insulin. Choose a healthy lifestyle. Proper diet and exercise can keep your blood sugar within the target range.

2.    Foot Care

• Examine your feet daily for cuts, blisters, redness, or swelling. Diabetes can seriously affect your foot wounds and scratches. If you face difficulty seeing your feet, use a mirror or ask someone for help.
• Wash your feet daily with mild soap and lukewarm water. Dry them carefully, especially between the toes. Use a soft towel or tissue to wipe out all the moisture completely.
• Moisturize your feet regularly, but do not apply lotion between the toes to prevent moisture buildup. Moisture builds up between toes, resulting in foot infection.
• Trim your toenails carefully; if you have trouble doing it yourself, ask someone to help you.

3.    Footwear for Diabetic Neuropathy Self-Care

• Wear comfortable and soft shoes and avoid high heels to prevent foot injuries.
• Before buying your shoes, look for foreign objects that can harm your feet. Doing this can help prevent foot injuries.

4.    Pain Management

• Painkillers and other medicines can help in pain management for diabetic patients.
• Another diabetic neuropathic treatment tip is to seek information from your health advisor or any doctor before buying any medicine. 

5.    Healthy Lifestyle

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle by following tips such as having a balanced diet, doing physical activities, cutting down on red meat or oily foods, eating less salt or sugar in your nutrition, etc.
• Being overweight and obese is very harmful for diabetic patients, so reduce your weight by eating a healthy diet. 
• Altogether, quit smoking as this can worsen the blood circulation in your body, cause nerve damage, and may also destroy other organs, which can make your conditions worse. Smoking and alcohol will severely affect your diabetic neuropathic treatment.

6.    Regular Checkups

· Schedule regular checkups with your healthcare provider to monitor your diabetes and measure the progression of neuropathy. These checkups help ensure your condition does not lead to other health problems, such as high cholesterol levels. 

7.    Blood Pressure Management

· Control your blood pressure through a healthy diet, regular exercise, and any prescribed medications. Also, do regular checkups with your health provider or any doctor to test the working of your kidneys and other organs , so it does not worsen your condition.

8.    Temperature Awareness

Temperature plays a vital role in medical care for humans and animals. So, we should be careful about extreme temperatures, as neuropathy can affect your ability to sense temperature changes. Avoid daily activities such as taking hot baths or showers, showering, and use sunscreen whenever you go out to avoid high temperatures and skin damage.

9.    Neuropathy-Friendly Exercises:

Diabetic neuropathic self-care involves neuropathy-friendly exercises that improve blood circulation, such as walking, swimming, bicycling, rowing, etc. Seek information or advice from your healthcare specialist before starting a brand new exercise routine.

10. Stress Management for Diabetic Neuropathy Self-Care

· Stress and depression can affect your body, thoughts, and feelings. Try to get yourself relax and opt for stress-reducing techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga, to help manage symptoms.

When to contact a doctor

A person with diabetes should contact a doctor or neurologist if a wound on their feet is getting worse or they experience symptoms of neuropathy, such as tingling, pain, loss of sensation in the feet, weakness, or loss of balance. Usually, if diabetes is diagnosed in the early stages  then you can limit damage to the nerves and prevent progression.

Similarly, a person with a diagnosis of neuropathy should contact a doctor if their symptoms worsen. The doctor will be able to offer advice on how to treat and prescribe medicines for the well-being of the patient.

Conclusion

Remember, working closely with your medical team to create a comprehensive plan best designed for your specific needs is essential. Regular monitoring and adjustments are necessary to manage changes in your condition over time. Though diabetic neuropathic self-care techniques are quite helpful in reducing pain and numbness, if you experience new or worsening symptoms, contact your healthcare provider promptly. Always take the best care of your health, as there is nothing more precious than good health.

FAQs

Is diabetes also affected by high blood pressure?

Yes, diabetes can get worse if you have high blood pressure. For diabetic neuropathic self-care, you must control your blood pressure and blood sugar.

How can we control blood sugar?

Reduce sugar intake; rather, use artificial sweeteners and fruit sugar. Choose a healthy lifestyle and make sleep patterns.

Does diabetic neuropathy self-care treatment can cure nerve damage?

Unfortunately, neuropathy treatment cannot reverse the nerve damage, but you can prevent more loss by neuropathy treatment.