Heel pain is another foot condition that seems to be common in diabetic patients. Many people with diabetes are also overweight, which creates an increased risk for the development of plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.

Plantar fasciitis is a foot condition characterized by sharp, stabbing heel pain that typically occurs when a person gets out of bed in the morning or stands up after sitting for a long time. While most people describe plantar fasciitis as a shooting pain, the condition can also cause some swelling in the heel.

Diabetes could be a contributing factor for heel pain and damage, which is most commonly found among the elderly.

The current treatment options for plantar fasciitis are changing physical activities, resting the foot, and applying ice. Orthotics can be helpful to promote healing and may reverse it sometimes. The centerpiece of the plantar fasciitis treatment is the basic calf stretch. The trick, though, is to stretch every day, multiple times, for 4-5 minutes per session.

Some members of our Adventist Vegetarian Diabetics™ group have successfully treated plantar fasciitis with nutrition and other lifestyle changes.

References

Mayo Clinic Staff. “Plantar fasciitis,” Mayo Clinic, n.d. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/plantar-fasciitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354846 (accessed on 8/3/2020).

Stallings, Jennifer, RD, LDN, CDE, CPT. “Is there a relationship between plantar fasciitis and diabetes?” DiabetesSisters (August 19, 2009). https://diabetessisters.org/article/there-relationship-between-plantar-fasciitis-and-diabetes (accessed on 8/3/2020).

Diabetes Feet: About the Diabetic Foot Pain
https://heelthatpain.com/diabetes-foot/

How I Fixed My Plantar Fasciitis for Good!
https://patientslounge.com/injuries/Cure-Your-Plantar-Fasciitis

Is there a relationship between plantar fasciitis and diabetes?
https://diabetessisters.org/article/there-relationship-between-plantar-fasciitis-and-diabetes

Plantar fasciitis
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/plantar-fasciitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354846

Plantar Fasciitis
https://www.drugs.com/health-guide/plantar-fasciitis.html

Plantar Fasciitis 101: Everything You Need to Know
https://www.everydayhealth.com/plantar-fasciitis/guide/