The burning feet and numbness that diabetes can cause.
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by high blood sugar over time. It most often starts as burning or numbness in the feet — and while it can't always be reversed, it can be managed well. With the right care, most people find real relief and protect themselves from the complications that make it worse.
Your doctor may call this diabetic peripheral neuropathy or DPN.
Often seen within a few days — sometimes as soon as tomorrowRequest your first visit
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What diabetic neuropathy really is.
Chronically elevated blood sugar gradually damages the small blood vessels that feed your nerves, starving them of the oxygen and nutrients they need to function. The result is nerve damage — most commonly in the feet and lower legs, where the longest nerves are most vulnerable. Over time the damage can move upward into the hands and arms as well.
Diabetic neuropathy is the most common complication of diabetes, affecting roughly half of people with type 2 diabetes over their lifetime. The frustrating reality is it often develops quietly — the first sign may be numbness rather than pain, which makes it easy to miss. When pain does appear, it typically takes the form of burning, stabbing, or an electric-shock quality that can be hard to describe.
The good news
Getting blood sugar under better control is the single most important step — it won't undo existing damage, but it significantly slows the progression. And there are effective treatments for the pain itself: most patients with diabetic neuropathy reach a level of relief that lets them sleep, function, and stay active. The earlier we're involved, the more options are on the table.
Distal symmetric polyneuropathy
The most common pattern of diabetic neuropathy is distal symmetric polyneuropathy — both feet are affected roughly equally, and symptoms progress in a stocking-and-glove distribution. We confirm the pattern with a focused neurological exam and may use nerve conduction studies or quantitative sensory testing when the picture is unclear. Pain management and foot-care education are central from day one.
Common signs we treat.
Burning feet
A persistent burning sensation in the soles or toes — often most intense at rest or overnight when there are fewer distractions.
Numbness in the toes
Reduced or absent sensation in the toes and feet, which can make it hard to detect injuries — a serious safety concern.
Stabbing or electric pains
Sudden, sharp jolts or electric-shock sensations that come without warning — a hallmark of damaged nerve fibers misfiring.
From hurting to healed.
We work from the least-invasive options upward, escalating only if you need it. Most patients improve well before surgery is ever discussed.
Diagnose the cause
A physician examines you and, if needed, reviews imaging to pinpoint exactly what's driving the pain.
Calm it down
Targeted physical therapy, activity guidance, and medication to settle the irritation and reduce inflammation.
Image-guided injections
If pain persists, a precisely targeted injection delivered to the source under imaging.
Advanced options
For the few who need more, minimally invasive interventional procedures — with surgery as a last resort.
Treatment is matched to your specific diagnosis at your visit. The options shown reflect NASPAC's general approach and should be confirmed against the practice's verified procedure list.
Still have questions?
High blood sugar over time damages the tiny blood vessels that supply peripheral nerves with oxygen and nutrients. Without that supply, nerve fibers break down. The process is gradual — which is why neuropathy often develops years into a diabetes diagnosis and why tight blood sugar control from early on is so protective.
Stopping or reversing diabetic neuropathy depends heavily on how early it's addressed. Better blood sugar control — whether through lifestyle, medication, or both — is the most proven way to slow or halt progression. Existing nerve damage typically doesn't fully reverse, but preventing further loss makes an enormous difference in long-term quality of life.
Several medication classes can calm diabetic neuropathy pain, including certain anticonvulsants, some antidepressants, and topical agents like lidocaine or capsaicin cream. When those aren't enough, we explore interventional options — including spinal cord stimulation, which has strong evidence in diabetic neuropathy specifically. We also work closely with your diabetes team so that pain management and blood sugar management are coordinated.
Numbness from diabetic neuropathy means you may not feel a cut, blister, or sore on your feet. Unnoticed foot injuries in people with diabetes can escalate quickly due to impaired healing and circulation. Daily foot inspection and prompt attention to any wound are not optional — they're part of the medical plan. We discuss this at every visit.
Stop living with the burning and numbness.
Book with a board-certified pain physician near you — most patients are seen within days.
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