Diabetic Neuropathy
Everything You Ought To Know About Diabetic Neuropathy
Being a diabetic means there are a lot of compromises and adjustments you will have to make, especially since there is no real cure for the disease. It also means staying especially vigilant about the changes that your body might go through as there are risks associated with ignoring any potential danger signs. The most devastating of these risks is the chance that you may develop diabetic neuropathy, a condition associated with diabetes that can attack the nervous system, creating lasting damage to the nerves and other areas of your body.
Want to know more about how diabetic neuropathy can negatively affect your body and how to check its progress? Everyone at Trinity Primary Care wants you to be able to live your life as healthy as possible. Call us today for an immediate appointment.
What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a condition that only develops in people who have diabetes, particularly those who have type 2 diabetes. It is primarily caused by unchecked high blood sugar levels, which interferes with how the nerves transmit signals to the brain. High blood sugar levels can also weaken the walls of your blood vessels known as capillaries, which are the primary source of oxygen and nutrients for the nerves. When the walls of the capillaries become weakened, glucose can leak through into the nervous system, attacking the nerve endings and causing lasting nerve damage.
What are the Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy?
The symptoms of neuropathy will vary depending upon the type of neuropathy you may have. There are four basic types: peripheral, autonomic, radiculoplexus and mononeuropathy. You may develop symptoms of just one type or you may have symptoms of several different types at once. You can even develop symptoms of neuropathy without having ever been diagnosed as being diabetic.
In general, you should see the doctor immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms:
• Unusual feelings of burning, tingling, pain or weakness in your hands or feet, especially at night.
• Dizziness
• Sudden changes in your digestion, ability to urinate or sudden incontinence, or an inability in sexual functions, like sudden, chronic impotency.
• A cut or sore on your foot that will not heal, appears infected or causes pain.
These symptoms may not necessarily mean that you have already begun to suffer nerve damage, but they may be a sign that there is something wrong. Early diagnosis can offer you the best chance to control the symptoms and prevent more serious problems later on.
Treatment
There is no known cure at this time, for either diabetes or diabetic neuropathy. What can be done through treatment however, is to achieve an adequate management of pain associated with it while also restoring function to affected areas, slowing the progression of this disease and most importantly, monitoring for any complications that could become seriously debilitating.
A partnership between you and the doctor, vigilant monitoring of glucose levels and good foot care can mean all the difference in dealing with this type of disease.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Everything You Ought To Know About Diabetic Neuropathy
Being a diabetic means there are a lot of compromises and adjustments you will have to make, especially since there is no real cure for the disease. It also means staying especially vigilant about the changes that your body might go through as there are risks associated with ignoring any potential danger signs. The most devastating of these risks is the chance that you may develop diabetic neuropathy, a condition associated with diabetes that can attack the nervous system, creating lasting damage to the nerves and other areas of your body.
Want to know more about how diabetic neuropathy can negatively affect your body and how to check its progress? Everyone at Trinity Primary Care wants you to be able to live your life as healthy as possible. Call us today for an immediate appointment.
What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a condition that only develops in people who have diabetes, particularly those who have type 2 diabetes. It is primarily caused by unchecked high blood sugar levels, which interferes with how the nerves transmit signals to the brain. High blood sugar levels can also weaken the walls of your blood vessels known as capillaries, which are the primary source of oxygen and nutrients for the nerves. When the walls of the capillaries become weakened, glucose can leak through into the nervous system, attacking the nerve endings and causing lasting nerve damage.
What are the Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy?
The symptoms of neuropathy will vary depending upon the type of neuropathy you may have. There are four basic types: peripheral, autonomic, radiculoplexus and mononeuropathy. You may develop symptoms of just one type or you may have symptoms of several different types at once. You can even develop symptoms of neuropathy without having ever been diagnosed as being diabetic.
In general, you should see the doctor immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms:
• Unusual feelings of burning, tingling, pain or weakness in your hands or feet, especially at night.
• Dizziness
• Sudden changes in your digestion, ability to urinate or sudden incontinence, or an inability in sexual functions, like sudden, chronic impotency.
• A cut or sore on your foot that will not heal, appears infected or causes pain.
These symptoms may not necessarily mean that you have already begun to suffer nerve damage, but they may be a sign that there is something wrong. Early diagnosis can offer you the best chance to control the symptoms and prevent more serious problems later on.
Treatment
There is no known cure at this time, for either diabetes or diabetic neuropathy. What can be done through treatment however, is to achieve an adequate management of pain associated with it while also restoring function to affected areas, slowing the progression of this disease and most importantly, monitoring for any complications that could become seriously debilitating.
A partnership between you and the doctor, vigilant monitoring of glucose levels and good foot care can mean all the difference in dealing with this type of disease.