Diabetic foot exercise to reduce acute pain in patient with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Over time, persistent elevation of blood glucose can lead to serious, life-threatening systemic complications, with diabetic neuropathy being one of the most widespread. Diabetic neuropathy involves progressive peripheral nerve dysfunction that affects sensory, motor, and autonomic nerves in the extremities—most commonly in the legs and feet. Patients with this condition frequently experience distressing symptoms such as burning, stabbing, tingling, abnormal heat or cold sensations, itching, and numbness. Proper foot care is vital for preventing further damage in diabetic patients who have already developed neuropathy. A primary nursing care approach for managing this condition involves diabetic foot exercises, a non-pharmacological intervention designed to strengthen lower-limb muscles and enhance peripheral blood circulation. In this clinical case evaluation, the primary objective was to describe the nursing care approach using diabetic foot exercises to reduce acute pain in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus accompanied by neuropathy. The intervention was implemented for patient over three consecutive days, with each daily session lasting between 15 and 30 minutes. Following the three-day exercise routine, the patient's self-reported pain score significantly decreased on the numeric pain rating scale, dropping from a moderate level 4 to a mild level 1. Ultimately, this outcome demonstrates that structured diabetic foot exercises are an effective nursing intervention for reducing acute neuropathic pain and supporting lower-extremity health in patients with type 2 diabetes

Keywords: Diabetes, exercise, nursing care, pain management, prevention