Things you must know about Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetes can be a debilitating condition on its own, but the disease can lead to further health complications that may severely limit your quality of life. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one such condition that is commonly associated with people suffering from severe cases of diabetes.
 

What is peripheral neuropathy?

Prolonged severe diabetes often causes damage to the nerves in certain regions of the body. This nerve damage leads to the painful condition, known as peripheral neuropathy. Here the nerves of the feet, hands and legs are affected and cause immense discomfort and pain, accompanied by numbness.

Almost 60 percent of people suffering from diabetes go on to develop peripheral neuropathy. However, if the blood sugar levels are maintained properly, the disorder is easily preventable.
 

Symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Nerves are classified into three distinct types, namely, autonomic, motor and sensory. The symptoms of the disease differ from one person to the next, based on the kind of nerve affected. A person with peripheral neuropathy may encounter signs like-

• Prickling, numbness and tingling sensation that originate near your feet and hands and slowly move up into your legs and arms, respectively

• Lack of coordination

• Extreme sensitivity to touch

• Paralysis or muscle weakness

In the case of autonomic nerve damage, the effects may be different and symptoms include-

• Bladder, bowel or digestive issues

• Altered sweating and heat intolerance

• Changes in blood pressure, leading to lightheadedness

Treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy

The objective of the treatment is to manage the symptoms associated with peripheral neuropathy. This can be done through a number of ways, which include-

• Treatment with pain medications, which help deal with the discomfort, arising from the nerve damage

• Some anti-seizure medicines also help relieve the pain caused due to the nerve damage

• The therapeutic approach may also be advised in some cases to relieve some of the pain from the condition

• Lastly, surgery may be required to treat neuropathy, where pressure on certain nerves, especially nerves in a tumour, may be causing complications.

Contact your physician to get proper treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy or keep your blood glucose levels in check to prevent the disorder altogether.