What Is Diabetic Neuropathy & Ways To Manage

Improper management of diabetes can lead to many complications. One such complication is diabetes-induced neuropathy. It is a condition caused by nerve damage from high blood sugar levels. Proper management of diabetic neuropathy is necessary to avoid further, severe complications.

A Microvascular Complication of Diabetes

Imagine living with constant numbness, tingling, and pain in your legs and feet. Diabetes-associated neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes that affects the nerves, typically in the hands and feet. It is caused by high blood sugar levels that damage the delicate nerve fibres, leading to symptoms like numbness, tingling, pain, and muscle weakness. This condition can significantly impact a person's quality of life and requires comprehensive management to prevent further nerve damage and alleviate symptoms. Let's explore the world of diabetes-associated neuropathy and discover how you can regain control and find relief.

What Is Diabetic Neuropathy?

Diabetic neuropathy is a term used to describe nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. The nerves carry electrical signals from the brain to different parts of the body and from the body back to the brain. These signals can help move your body, alert you of sensations, and control bodily functions like sweating, digestion, and bladder emptying.

When your nerves get damaged due to high blood sugar levels, it leads to weakness or numbness. In addition, it can affect your ability to move and affect your internal organs. Based on which nerves are damaged, the types of diabetic neuropathies include:

• Mononeuropathy: Damage to a single nerve, which can occur in different areas like the legs or hands.
• Autonomic neuropathy: In this, the nerves controlling your organs are affected.
• Proximal neuropathy: This type of complication causes weakness in the hips, buttocks, thighs, and shoulders.
• Peripheral neuropathy: Commonly affects the feet and legs, and sometimes extends to the hands, resulting in symptoms like numbness and tingling.

Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy, which typically affects the feet, hands, arms, and legs, is the most common type of nerve damage in people with diabetes. It typically begins in the feet and can affect both feet simultaneously. Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy can include:

• Increased pain or sensitivity, especially at night.
• Weakness or numbness
• Shooting or burning pain
• Tingling
• Loss of sensation in the feet
• Serious foot problems can occur, such as infections, ulcers, and bone and joint pain and healing may be slowed down.

Focal neuropathy, or mononeuropathy, can manifest as Bell’s palsy (weakness of one side of the face), dropping things due to weakness in the hands, pain behind one eye, tingling or numbness in the hands or fingers, and vision issues such as double vision.

With autonomic nerve damage, you may experience nausea; vomiting; loss of appetite; bowel or bladder issues such as diarrhoea, constipation, or incontinence; and decreased sex drive.

Proximal nerve damage can lead to symptoms such as stomach pain; difficulty getting up when seated; and hip, thigh, or buttock pain.

Risk Factors for Developing Diabetes-Associated Neuropathy

Some risk factors for developing diabetic neuropathy include:

• Being overweight or obese.
• Uncontrolled blood sugar levels.
• Advancing age, typically over 50 years old.
• Prolonged duration of diabetes, particularly when blood sugar consistently exceeds target levels.
• Elevated cholesterol levels.
• High blood pressure.

Tips to Prevent Diabetic Neuropathy

Various complications can occur as a result of diabetic neuropathy, including gastrointestinal issues, dizziness, weakness, and difficulties related to urinary or sexual functions. If you have already developed diabetic neuropathy or are trying to prevent it, here are a few tips to help you:

1. Control Your Blood Sugar Levels

Achieving control over blood glucose levels cannot reverse nerve damage, but it can prevent further deterioration. Some steps you can take for this include:

• Follow your doctor's specific blood sugar goals, which involve eating a healthy, protein-rich, low-carbohydrate diet.
• Choose high-fibre foods and avoid chips and soda.
• Regularly exercise as exercise increases insulin sensitivity and reduces daily insulin requirements.
• Get adequate sleep to avoid cravings for high-carbohydrate foods when tired.

2. Manage Other Risk Factors

Achieving healthy blood glucose levels is crucial, but it may not be the sole solution. Managing other risk factors like high triglycerides or cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, and quitting smoking are equally important. Engaging in daily aerobic exercises has been proven to safeguard nerves and enhance neuropathy outcomes. Additionally, weight loss is vital for individuals who are overweight or obese. 3

3. Treating Pain

Chronic pain can arise from diabetic neuropathy and can be managed through the following approaches:

• Utilising pain medications, such as topical creams or patches.
• Administering other prescribed medications aimed at reducing pain.

Proper and timely management is extremely necessary to prevent further issues like balance problems and issues walking or sitting. In some rare cases, diabetes can worsen and cause peripheral artery disease (PAD) and, without proper treatment, this can lead to amputation.

If you have nerve damage, it's important to also address your mental health. Talk to your doctor about joining a support group, performing destressing techniques like meditation, starting therapy, or taking medications like antidepressants to reduce pain. Seeking support and implementing coping strategies can make a significant difference in managing the challenges of nerve damage.

Conclusion

Diabetic neuropathy is a complex condition that affects the nerves, commonly in the legs and feet, causing symptoms like pain, numbness, and weakness.

Seeking professional guidance, making lifestyle adjustments, and seeking support are key steps toward finding relief and improving your well-being in the face of diabetic neuropathy.