Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy is nerve damage to the arms, hands, legs or feet as a result of diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy directly affects the sensory nerves, motor nerves, and autonomic nerves. This form of diabetes basically damages nerves that allow us to feel sensations, such as temperature and chronic pain. It attacks a person’s motor nerves, which regulates the muscles and strength. This type of diabetes can also damage the autonomic nerves or involuntary body functions, such as the heart, sweat glands, and blood vessels.
The cause of nerve damage or likelihood of having diabetic neuropathy may be due to poorly managed diabetes for a long period. The most common is not keeping the blood glucose level under strict control. Although even the most responsible patients who consistently maintain healthy blood glucose level can develop neuropathy, it is always in the patient’s best interest to keep it under control. However, rather than running the risk of having diabetes with nerve damage, it is best to try and prevent it by maintaining a healthy blood glucose level.
Once diabetic peripheral neuropathy advances and gets worse, multiple nerves are at risk of being damaged. This can lead to additional problems and complications such as ulcers and deformities. Since patients are unaware of cuts and sores due to numbness or lack of feeling, open sores usually go undetected. Depending on the type of nerve affected, patients may also experience chronic pain, sharp pains or burning, loss of balance due to muscle weakness, dry cracked feet, and loss of balance.
Controlling the blood glucose level is not only a strategy for minimizing the risk of developing neuropathy; it is vital to the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. There are also various forms of treatment of neuropathy symptoms, such as medications to help relieve tingling or burning feeling and physical therapy to help with the balance symptoms.
Since neuropathy does not happen overnight, minimizing the risk of having diabetic neuropathy peripheral can be successful by consistently managing the diabetes and maintaining a good blood glucose level. Preventive measures include keeping the blood sugar levels at a good healthy level, avoid cuts and sores on the feet with well-fitted shoes, take care to inspect the feet daily and get sores and blisters checked by physicians. It is also important to have periodic check ups with primary care physician and endocrinologist.
Medications can be prescribed to assist in keeping the blood glucose levels under control as well as to help alleviate pain and discomfort. Light therapy to help increase blood circulation and self care practices are also good preventive practices.