Divabetic: What's Wrong With My Feet?
Recently, we received this e-mail from a self-proclaimed “Divabetic” (a smart, sexy woman with diabetes who is living life to the fullest!):
“I work 12 hour shifts 3 days a week on a concrete floor. I have New Balance walking shoes, gel inserts and I’m taking aspirin. After 4 hours into the shift, my feet feel like they are on fire! 10 hours into my shift is just a battle with pain. My feet cramp and there’s tingling on the bottom of my feet traveling up half my calf. What can I do?”
HERE’S THE ANSWER: A burning sensation on the soles of your feet can arise from any number of causes — ill-fitting shoes to diabetes. The most serious cause is peripheral neuropathy damage to the leg nerves often from diabetes or alcoholism and less commonly from vitamin deficiencies or lead poisoning.
Some people experience fiery feet because they’re sensitive to a chemical in the inner lining of their shoes ( particularly some types of athletic shoes ). Try changing your footgear to see if the problem subsides. If not, see your physician to rule out medical causes.
Send your questions to divabetic.org or join our facebook group and fan pages.
