Diabetic neuropathy is a common clinical complication resulted due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels in diabetics. It is caused due to the severe damage of the nerves that play a key role in controlling your sensation or feelings like pain. Although nerve damage associated with diabetes can be painful, but in most cases it is not severe.
According to leading diabetologists diabetes is not just a blood sugar problem, it is a vascular disorder. That means that diabetes affects the entire body including your nerves. Renowned neurosurgeon Dr Arjun Srivatsa writes more about diabetic neuropathy – a condition that affects the nerves and can have serious complications.
Depending on the type of nerve being affected, the disease can been classified into 4 types - peripheral, autonomic, proximal and focal.
Peripheral neuropathy: It would mean that the peripheral nerves being affected and so symptoms of numbness and tingling in the periphery.
Autonomic neuropathy: It would mean infection of the nerves of the visceral systems like the digestive system, urinary system, etc.
Proximal neuropathy: This would mean the proximal muscles are affected. Read about 18 causes of muscle weakness.
Focal neuropathy: In this type, specific nerve gets affected causing defects only in that specific nerve distribution.
In diabetic patients who have had the condition for a long time, the nerves get affected and cause various symptoms of nerve damage. This is because the nerves receive progressively lesser blood supply due to constricted blood vessels. Since, it can affect any kind of nerve in the body; the symptoms can be as varied as numbness (either localized or all over the body) to urinary problems.
Here are 10 causes of numbness and tingling sensation.
Based on the type of neuropathy described above the symptoms can be
Monitoring blood glucose levels frequently and ensuring that they are under check helps. Foot care treatment to prevent infections and ulcers due to the lack of sensation may be required in some cases. Here are 8 foot care tips diabetics must follow.
In case of severe pain, drugs to help alleviate the pain – tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants like pregabalin, carbamezapine, opioid and opioid like drugs do help. Here's everything you should know about painkillers or analgesics.
The content has been verified by Dr Arjun Srivatsa, Neurosurgeon and Spine Surgeon, Delhi.
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By taking these steps, people with diabetes can reduce their risk of developing neurological complications and improve their overall quality of life.
A usual visit to your clinician is often shortened due to the high patient burden and economy of time, hence some questions on the disease that many of us wish to ask as patients and many doctors wish to explain, goes unanswered
Excessive alcohol intake is not good for anybody. But if you are diabetic, it may have fatal consequences. Strike a balance for better health.
Diabetes is a condition where you have a high level of glucose in your blood. On this World Diabetes Day, take a pledge to avoid this condition by maintaining overall health and fitness.
Diabetes raises your risk of several health complications, including a few cancers. Manage this condition naturally.
Physical fitness can help you control your blood sugar levels and have a positive impact on overall wellbeing. Read on to know how to start your fitness journey the right way.
People who love spicy food can't do without chili peppers. Now researchers say that it can increase risk of dementia. But it has its benefits too.
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Dr V. Mohan of Dr Mohan s Diabetes Specialties Centre tells us more about the physical signs of diabetes
These yoga asanas can help in controlling blood glucose levels and save you from complications of diabetes if done regularly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the India-Singapore Enterprise and Innovation Exhibition, where he was presented with a demonstration on how a group of Indian doctors have been delivering a high standard of care to the country's most remote communities.
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Dr Apratim Goel dermatologist and laser surgeon, Director, Cutis skin studio, Mumbai to know more about diabetic facials.
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PhotosUncontrolled diabetes can cause many health complications, one of which is nerve damage or diabetic neuropathy, a serious and common complication of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
