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Diabetic neuropathy is a form of nerve injury that can emerge as a result of diabetes. High blood sugar (glucose) levels can harm nerves all over your body but mostly affect the nerves in the legs and feet.
Diabetic neuropathy symptoms can range from discomfort and numbness in your legs and feet to complications with your digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels, and heart, depending on which nerves are impacted. Some people only experience minor signs and symptoms; while for others, it can be quite stressful.
Diabetic neuropathy is a severe diabetes syndrome that affects up to 50% of people with the disease. However, proper blood sugar management and a healthy lifestyle can typically avoid or slow the progression of diabetic neuropathy.
There are four main types of diabetic neuropathy. You can have one or several types of neuropathy.
Your symptoms will be determined by the type of nerve damage you have and which nerves are affected. Usually, symptoms develop gradually. It’s possible that you won’t notice a thing until significant nerve damage has happened.
Another term used is distal symmetric peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy of this sort is the most frequent. The feet and legs are initially affected, followed by the hands and arms. The following are some of the signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy that are often worse at night:
The autonomic nerve system regulates your heart, bladder, stomach, intestines, sex organs, and eyes. Diabetic nerve injury can occur in any of these regions, resulting in the following symptoms:
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Episodic cluster headaches are a common headache kind. The duration of episodic cluster headaches ranges from a week to a year, and they are followed by remission periods that can persist for up to a year before returning.
Mononeuropathy is classified as either cranial or peripheral. Damage to a specific nerve is referred to as mononeuropathy. Mononeuropathy may also lead to:
Seek an appointment with specialists at Painmd, if you have:
The American Diabetes Association suggests that diabetic neuropathy screening begins shortly after a person is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and five years after a person is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. After that, screening is recommended annually.
Diabetic neuropathy is usually diagnosed by performing a physical exam, and carefully reviewing medical history and symptoms.
Your doctor will check your:
The specialists at Painmd, may perform or order specific tests to help diagnose diabetic neuropathy along with the physical exam, such as:
Electromyography is often done with nerve conduction studies. This procedure measures the electrical discharge produced by muscles.
It is possible to prevent further nerve damage by controlling your blood sugar. Unfortunately, it won’t reverse the damage or relieve the pain caused by diabetic nerve damage. It may be necessary to receive a specific diabetic nerve pain treatment.
Oral drugs, which just mask the symptoms, are the most commonly used strategy.
Although a variety of pharmacological medications are available to treat the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has only approved duloxetine and pregabalin for the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain.
Pregabalin (Lyrica, Pfizer), the “gold standard” in treating peripheral neuropathy, helps 39 percent of patients attain a 50 percent reduction in their discomfort and pain, but it also causes problems in at least 38 percent of patients. These drugs have significant downsides and side effects. The FDA has not approved over-the-counter pain relievers to treat this type of discomfort.
Specialists at Padda Institute use combined therapy to successfully treat diabetic neuropathy. The therapy combines two well-known techniques into a program. It is showing significant promise as a treatment for diabetic and idiopathic neuropathies. Combination therapy consists of two procedures, a local anesthetic Ankle Block and Electronic Signal Therapy (EST), which utilizes a highly sophisticated electro anesthetic wave generator.
EST uses electrical signals to regenerate nerves and increase blood flow by stimulating nerve function in the damaged areas. Electronic signal treatment relies on both varied amplitude (AM) and frequency (FM) of electronic signals using computer-controlled, exogenously delivered specific parameters of cell signals.
When applied to the human body, this digitally created electronic sinusoidal alternating current with associated harmonics creates scientifically documented and/or theorized physiological consequences. The electronic signal treatment medical device employs sophisticated communications technology to generate and transfer higher frequency signal energy via customized electrodes in a constantly altering sequential and random manner. This switching between sequential and random electronic signal supply removes neuron accommodation.
With the use of 0.25 percent Marcaine, a local anesthetic, and a vasodilator (opens blood vessels for a short time to enhance blood flow). When your nerves are stimulated, they receive more blood flow, which results in faster regeneration.
Combined therapy is believed to:
With a successful and acceptable pain management treatment plan, the patient will be able to regain more mobility.
Diabetes poses particular challenges to the feet due to the risk of nerve damage, sores, ulcers and circulation issues.Circulatory issues can deprive feet of nutrients that promote healing in addition to delayed wound care.