Diabetic neuropathy is a nerve damage caused by long term of high blood sugar in persons with diabetes. it mainly causes pain tingling and numbness in the extremities but it can also affect cardiovascular, urinary and digestive system.
Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.
The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy depend on the type of the nerve affected but the most commonly noticed symptoms are.
Causative factors:
Treatment modalities
Complications
Diabetic neuropathy can lead to some serious complications like foot ulcers which may get infected which leads to food amputation. It can also cause recurrent low sugars ,which may be endangering to life. It also causes silent heart attacks,which in majority of cases goes undetected and hence the late treatment leads to young age deaths related to cardiac events.
Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.
The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy depend on the type of the nerve affected but the most commonly noticed symptoms are.
- Peripheral : This includes pain pins and needle sensation tingling sensation or a numbness in the extremities mainly the lower Limb more than the upper Limbs and it worsens in the night.
- Autonomic: Digestive issues like constipation and diarrhoea, urinary incontinence, rapid heart rate also known as tachycardia, erectile dysfunction and dizziness.
- Primary factor : Uncontrolled blood sugar for a long standing duration is the primary causative factor.
- Other factors include smoking obesity high blood pressure and dyslipidemia
- Control of the blood sugar is the main treatment modality that aims at reducing the neuropathy symptoms
- Medications like anti depresents (e.g.duloxetine) and anticonvulsants (e.g. Pregabalin, Gabapentin) can be used for pain relief.
- Regular self examination of the food should be done to look for any ulcers.
Diabetic neuropathy can lead to some serious complications like foot ulcers which may get infected which leads to food amputation. It can also cause recurrent low sugars ,which may be endangering to life. It also causes silent heart attacks,which in majority of cases goes undetected and hence the late treatment leads to young age deaths related to cardiac events.
