What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occur in people with diabetes. High blood sugar levels over time can injure nerves throughout the body, but diabetic neuropathy most often affects nerves in the legs and feet.
In fact, Diabetic neuropathy is not a disease itself; it is a severe condition that results from the underlying disease of diabetes and needs to be properly managed and treated to stop further complications.
Many people withΒ diabetes are prone to diabetic neuropathy. But with a healthy lifestyle and constant blood sugar control, it’s possible to prevent diabetic neuropathy or reduce its progression.
Types of Diabetic Neuropathy
There are four basic kinds of neuropathy in diabetes patients:
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Autonomic neuropathy
- Proximal neuropathy
- Focal neuropathy
Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy
The following are common signs and symptoms of the various forms of diabetic neuropathy:
- Nausea,Β indigestion, orΒ vomiting
- Sensitivity to touch
- Numbness in hands or feet
- Difficulty with coordination when walking
- Burning sensation in feet, especially at night
- BloatingΒ or fullness
- Muscle weaknessΒ or wasting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Excessive or decreased sweating
- Vaginal dryness
- Bladder problems
- Double vision
- Inability to sense low blood glucose
- Increased heart rate
When To See A Doctor?
Seek medical attention if you:
- Have persistent or worsening symptoms like numbness, tingling, or pain.
- Experience foot problems, difficulty walking, or balance issues.
- Develop gastrointestinal, bladder, or sexual dysfunction.
- Notice new symptoms or changes in vision.
- Need preventive foot care due to diabetes.
Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing complications.
Causes of Diabetic Neuropathy
- Prolonged High Blood Sugar Levels: Persistent hyperglycemia can lead to nerve damage.
- High Cholesterol Levels: Elevated cholesterol can impair blood vessels, affecting nerve health.
- Physical Trauma: Conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome can cause nerve damage.
- Lifestyle Choices: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to neuropathy.
- Vitamin B-12 Deficiency: Inadequate vitamin B-12 intake can lead to nerve damage. Metformin, a common diabetes medication, can decrease vitamin B-12 levels.
By addressing these causes through proper management and lifestyle adjustments, the risk and impact of diabetic neuropathy can be minimised.
Risk Factors of Diabetic Neuropathy
Anyone with diabetes is susceptible to neuropathy, but these risk factors increase the possibility of nerve damage:
- High Blood Pressure: Damages blood vessels and reduces blood supply to nerves.
- High Cholesterol: This leads to plaque buildup, restricting blood flow to nerves.
- Poor Blood Sugar Control: Frequent high blood sugar increases the risk.
- Long Diabetes History: Prolonged diabetes, especially with high blood sugar, raises the likelihood.
- Kidney Disease: Damaged kidneys release toxins that harm nerves.
- Genetics: A family history of diabetes or neuropathy increases susceptibility.
Diabetic NeuropathyΒ Prevention Tips
- Maintain blood sugar levels within the prescribed limit
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain a healthy weight as per your height
- Give up smoking
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Regular medical check-ups
- Stress management
- Manage cholesterol levels
Diagnosis of Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathies are diagnosed by knowing the patient’s medical history, undergoing a clinical examination, taking blood tests, taking blood glucose tests, and performing additional laboratory tests. The diabetic neuropathy diagnosis consists:
- Checking the reflexes and muscle power of the patient.
- Evaluate the muscles’ sensitivity to vibration, temperature, posture, and light touch.
- UltrasoundΒ test to monitor the condition of the urinary tract.
- Muscle response to electrical impulses can be measured viaΒ electromyography (EMG).
- Nerve conduction studies check the flow of electrical current through a nerve.
- Skin biopsiesΒ to evaluate cutaneous nerve innervation.
- Nerve and muscle biopsies for histopathological evaluation.
Complications of Diabetic Neuropathy
- Damage to nerves resulting in pain, tingling, or numbness, especially in the feet and hands
- Reduced sensation, increasing the risk of injuries or infections going unnoticed
- Weakness in muscles and challenges with coordination or balance
- Digestive issues like bloating, nausea, diarrhoea or constipation
- Erectile dysfunction or sexual problems in both men and women
- Problems with the bladder, such as frequent infections or difficulty managing urination
- Elevated susceptibility to infections, particularly in the feet, due to poor blood circulation and compromised immune response
Treatment for Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is incurable. Slowing the progression of the illness and easing painful symptoms are treatment objectives. Keeping blood glucose levels under control will reduce further damage.
The treatment focuses on reducing pain and discomfort and also helps to prevent more tissue damage. The treatment may include:
- Pain medications
- Antidepressants to ease pain and discomfort
- Skin creams
- Transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy
- Hypnosis
- Acupuncture
- Relaxation training
- Biofeedback
- Special shoes to safeguard feet from injuries
Diabetic Neuropathy Care at ONUS Hospitals
At ONUS hospitals, our endocrinologists specialise in treating diabetic neuropathy with care. Our skilled medical team uses the latest techniques and technology to ensure complete care and faster recovery for our patients.
We take a multidisciplinary approach to treating diabetic neuropathy. Our goal is to provide personalised care to each patient, helping them achieve sustained recovery and improved quality of life.
