Lifestyle and home remedies

These measures can help you feel better overall and reduce your risk of diabetic neuropathy:

• Keep your blood pressure under control. If you have high blood pressure and diabetes, you have an even greater risk of complications. Try to keep your blood pressure in the range your doctor recommends, and be sure to have it checked at every office visit.
• Make healthy food choices. Eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of healthy foods — especially vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Limit portion sizes to help achieve or maintain a healthy weight.

• Be active every day. Exercise helps lower blood sugar, improves blood flow and keeps your heart healthy. The American Diabetes Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week for most adults with diabetes. It's also a good idea to take a break from sitting every 30 minutes to get a few quick bursts of activity.

  Talk with your doctor or physical therapist before you start exercising. If you have decreased feeling in your legs, some types of exercise, such as walking, may be safer than others. If you have a foot injury or sore, stick with exercise that doesn't require putting weight on your injured foot.

• Stop smoking. Using tobacco in any form makes you more likely to develop poor circulation in your feet. If you use tobacco, talk to your doctor about finding ways to quit.