Diabetic Neuropathy healthworld4u.com/2019/11/diabetic-neuropathy.html
Diabetic neuropathy can be described as a type of nerve damage that may occur because of diabetes. This severe condition mainly affects the legs and also feet. Symptoms of this neuropathy range from mild to some people while it can be painful and debilitating in some people. Diabetic neuropathy can be even fatal in some people.
l High blood sugar has the potential to damage your nerve. l Talking about diabetic neuropathy, it is compulsory to know symptoms occurring in this condition. l Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy range from mild numbness and pain in your legs and feet to problems related to the urinary system, digestive system, blood vessels, and heart. Symptoms of Diabetic neuropathy Peripheral neuropathy: It is the most common type of symptom and it affects feet and legs first. Later it may affect hands and arms. 1/4
l You will notice numbness and reduce the ability to feel pain and temperature changes. l You might feel burning and tingling sensations. l Sometimes there might be sharp pains and cramps. l For some people, there may be increased sensitivity to touch. l Loss of coordination and balance l Muscle weakness. l Some serious foot problems like ulcers, infection and joint or bone pain. Autonomic neuropathy: It is an autonomic nervous system that controls your heart, stomach, bladder, intestine, eyes and sex organs. High blood sugar can affect nerves in any of these areas. l There may be a bladder problem that includes urinary tract infection, urinary retention, and incontinence. l You may suffer from constipation, uncontrolled diarrhea or both. l Sometimes you may feel nausea, bloat, vomiting, and loss of appetite because of slow stomach emptying. l Difficulty in swallowing. l Problems in controlling body temperature. l There may be changes in the way your eyes adjust from light to dark. l There may be a sharp drop in blood pressure that may cause you to faint or feel lightheaded. l Erectile dysfunction. l Decreased sexual response. l Vaginal dryness. Radiculoplexus neuropathy also known as Diabetic amyotrophy: In this condition, the nerve in thigh, hip, buttock, and legs region are affected. l There may be severe pain in the hip and thigh or buttock region. l You will feel difficulty rising from a sitting position. l Abdominal swelling. l Weight loss. Mononeuropathy: This is focal neuropathy and it is damage to the specific nerve in the face or middle of the body or maybe leg. This condition is common in older adults. This condition often occurs suddenly and results in severe pain. But the good thing is that usually, it does not cause any long term problems. You may feel pain in: l Lower back l Shin or foot l Front of thigh l Chest or abdomen Focal neuropathy can also cause nerve problems in the face and eye and it results in: 2/4
l Double vision l Difficulty focusing l Aching behind one eye l There may be paralysis on one side of your face. These are some symptoms that you might face in the condition of severe diabetes. Now after discussing symptoms, let's discuss the reasons for diabetic neuropathy.
Causes l There may be damage to nerve and blood vessels: Researchers believe that uncontrolled high blood sugar damages nerves and interfere with the ability to send signals. High blood sugar also weakens the walls of the small blood capillaries that supply blood to the nerves leading to their damage because of lack of oxygen and nutrients. l There may be inflammation in the nerve that is caused by an autoimmune response. l Genetic factors also make some people more suspect to develop nerve damage. Risk factor A person with diabetes is in the risk zone of developing neuropathy, but here we are listing some risk factor that makes you more prone to get nerve damage: l Poor blood sugar: Uncontrolled blood sugar takes you in the risk of severe diabetic complications that include nerve damage. l Diabetic history: Incase if your family has a history of diabetic neuropathy, then you need to take more care to control your blood sugar. l Kidney disease: Diabetes leads to kidney disease which further causes the release of toxins that causes nerve damage. l Overweight: It also increases the chances of diabetic neuropathy. Complications: l Nerve damage may make you lose feeling in your feet, toe, and legs. l Damage to the nerve may cause a joint to deteriorate and this condition is known as Charcot's joint. Its symptoms include loss of sensation and joint swelling. l Damage to the nerve that is controlling your bladder may enable you to fully empty your bladder. This may lead to a urinary tract infection. Nerve damage may also make you loss of ability to feel when you need to urinate and to control those muscles that release urine. This leads to leakage. l Diabetes can also damage your nerve that controls blood flow ad this affects your body’s ability to adjust blood pressure. l Damage to the nerve that controls the digestive system may lead to constipation or uncontrolled diarrhea. Sometimes, both conditions occur at the same time. l Diabetic neuropathy may cause damage to nerves that affects the sex organs. Men may 3/4
face erectile dysfunction. In women, there may be difficulty in lubrication and arousal. Treatment There is no cure for diabetic neuropathy. But medical care may slow its progression. The best way to avoid diabetic neuropathy is by keeping your blood sugar levels within healthy ranges. This can also relieve some symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. l Quitting the habit of smoking and daily exercise are also part of a comprehensive treatment plan. l You can use some medicine on the prescription of doctors to treat pain by diabetic neuropathy. You can also consider alternative therapies like acupuncture and others to relive. l Your doctor will prescribe medicines depending on the affected nerve.
Prevention It is easy to avoid diabetic neuropathy if you manage your blood glucose level. To keep your blood glucose level in a healthy range, you need to: l Monitor your blood sugar level. l Take prescribed medicines daily. l Manage your diet and exercise. l Always stay active. Final words: Try your best to keep your blood sugar in the healthy range to avoid diabetic neuropathy. If still you develop neuropathy, work closely with the doctor and strictly follow their recommendations to slow its progression. Your proper care will reduce the damage to your nerves and avoid complications. Thank you
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