Exercising with Peripheral Neuropathy
Do you have diabetes? According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), around 34 million people in the United States have received a diagnosis, including children. At PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center, we commonly help patients manage complications that can come along with this condition. One example is diabetic peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage. While managing diabetes can be challenging, we know that staying active remains a top benefit. Here are a few tips to keep in mind from the ADA:
Care for your feet
Exercising barefoot is a no-no with this condition, especially for patients with neuropathy. Protect your feet by wearing properly fitting socks and shoes. Skip cotton and choose socks made with a friction-reducing fabric (calluses can be a problem, too).
Warm-up and cool-down
Set aside time before and after your exercise routine to reach the right intensity level. Five-minute warm-up and cool-down sessions are a great start. The goal is to improve your circulation, warm-up your joints, and then allow your body time to wind down.
Inspect your feet
After your workout, look closely at your feet for signs of irritation. The signs include blisters, redness, or swelling. If you notice something new, contact your podiatrist before your next workout.
Stop and sit down
If you feel pain, stop, and sit down. Pain should not define your workout — even if you feel like everything else is going well. We also encourage you to stop if you begin to feel lightheaded or dizzy. Use this time to rehydrate and check your blood sugar level.
Our board-certified team of foot and ankle doctors at PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center has experience with addressing foot needs, including bunions and hammertoes, pediatric foot care, custom orthotics, heel pain, diabetic foot care, and more. The team includes Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, and Dr. Laura Vander Poel. We have two locations in Hartford County: 1379 Enfield Street, Enfield, CT, and 1350 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, CT. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.