What is diabetes neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes. Diabetes neuropathy is a type of nerve damage due to diabetes. High blood sugar can affects the nerves throughout the body. It can cause tingling, numbness, pain, and weakness in the feet and legs. Neuropathy can also impact the digestive system, heart, and sex organs. It can make it hard to walk, climb stairs, or do other everyday activities. Neuropathy can also lead to skin ulcers, which can become infected. It may occur in more than half of people with diabetes who have had the disease for ten years or more.

Neuropathy can cause significant disability if not taken care of at the right time. Let’s discuss how long does diabetic neuropathy take to develop and how to control diabetic neuropathy.

Causes of neuropathy

There are many potential causes of neuropathy, some of which are reversible and some of which are not. Many cases of neuropathy are caused by damage to the nerves, which can be the result of several different conditions. Some common causes of nerve damage that can lead to neuropathy include:

• Diabetes: approximately 60-70% of people with high blood sugar levels develop some form of neuropathy.
• Alcoholism or drug abuse: People who drink heavily are at risk for developing neuropathy.
• Infections: Certain infections can cause nerve damage.
• Trauma: Injury to the nerves can lead to neuropathy.
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Autoimmune diseases

Types of diabetes neuropathy

There are four main types of diabetes neuropathy: peripheral, autonomic, proximal, and mononeuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that results when the nerves that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This damage can disrupt the communication between the brain and the rest of the body, leading to various symptoms. Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common types of diabetic neuropathy, and it impacts the nerves in your limbs.

Cures for peripheral neuropathy are not known, but there are various ways and treatments that can help lessen these symptoms. Some people with peripheral neuropathy need to make lifestyle changes to manage their condition.

You must consult a doctor if any one of the following symptoms of peripheral neuropathy is experienced by you, including:

• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• Burning, prickling, or itching sensations
• Sharp, jabbing, or electric-shock-like pain
• Loss of muscle control and coordination
• Trouble balancing and walking
• Dry mouth and eyes
• Sexual dysfunction
• Constipation or diarrhoea

Autonomic neuropathy

Autonomic neuropathy is a disorder that results from damage to the autonomic nervous system. It controls all the body's "automatic" functions, such as digestion, blood pressure, bladder control, and heart rate. Damage to the autonomic nervous system can cause problems with these functions. It can cause constipation, diarrhoea, low blood pressure, and erectile dysfunction.

What are the symptoms of autonomic neuropathy?

When it is affected, it can lead to various symptoms, including the following, and it is an alarming time for getting in touch with the medical expert.

• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Urinary problems
• Sexual problems
• Low blood pressure
• High blood pressure

Proximal neuropathy

Proximal neuropathy is a type of peripheral neuropathy that impacts the muscles closest to the trunk of the body. It is caused by damage to the nerves that supply these muscles. This can lead to difficulty walking, climbing stairs, and other activities that require coordinated movement.

Symptoms of proximal neuropathy include weakness, pain, and cramping in the affected muscles. This is when you need lifestyle changes and consultation with the doctor to help manage symptoms and know how to treat diabetic neuropathy naturally.

There are several possible causes of proximal neuropathy, including injury, infection, and certain diseases. The condition may progress over time, leading to permanent disability. There is no cure for proximal neuropathy, but treatment depends on the underlying cause of the neuropathy. In some cases, treatment helps relieve symptoms and improve quality of life or may involve surgery or medication. In other cases, lifestyle changes may be necessary to help manage symptoms.

Mononeuropathy

Mononeuropathy (or mononeuritis) is a medical condition that affects just one nerve in the body. The most common type of mononeuropathy is carpal tunnel syndrome, which impacts the median nerve in the arm. Other types of mononeuropathy include radial nerve palsy, lumbosacral plexopathy, and peroneal nerve palsy.

Mononeuropathy can cause a wide range of symptoms, depending on which nerve is impacted. These can include pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, paralysis, and problems with movement or numbness in the hand and arm.

The condition can be caused by several things, including: 

• Trauma or injury to the nerve
• Infection, such as meningitis
• Diabetes
• Autoimmune diseases, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Cancer

Diagnosis of diabetes neuropathy

If you have diabetes and are experiencing symptoms of diabetes neuropathy, see your doctor. They can diagnose the condition and recommend treatment. The earlier diabetes neuropathy is diagnosed, the better the chances for successful treatment.

Several different tests can be used to diagnose diabetes neuropathy. One important blood test used to diagnose diabetic neuropathy is the haemoglobin A1c test. This test measures a person’s average blood sugar level over the past three months. It can help doctors determine if someone has diabetes and, if they do, how well it is being controlled.

Other tests that may be used include physical examination, blood tests, urine tests, and nerve conduction studies: filament tests, sensory testing, nerve conduction testing, muscle response testing, and autonomic testing.

• Filament test: It is also called sensory testing, wherein a soft nylon fibre (monofilament) is brushed over areas of the patient's skin and the test to check the sensitivity to touch. It checks how nerves respond to vibration and changes in the surrounding temperature.
• Electrodiagnostic tests: These tests use electrical impulses to measure the health of your nerves.
• Nerve conduction studies: This test measures the speed of electrical signals as they travel along your nerves.
• Biopsy: This is a test in which a small sample of tissue is removed from your body so that it can be examined under a microscope.
• Muscle response testing is also known as electromyography; it measures the response of nerves in arms and legs to electrical signals.
• Autonomic testing is a simple test when the heart rate is assessed to various changes like standing and deep breathing by placing electrodes on your chest. Also know about sugar in urine test.

Diabetic neuropathy treatment

There are many treatments for diabetic neuropathy. Treatment options vary depending on the type and severity of neuropathy. Some people with neuropathy may not require any treatment. Others may need medication, physical therapy, or surgery.

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for diabetic neuropathy. Learn how to treat diabetic neuropathy naturally by changing diet and having a healthy diet, lifestyle habits, checking on your blood pressure, being active, and doing regular exercises to prevent neuropathy from developing.

The objective of treatment is to maintain

• A slow progression of the disease is achieved by continuously checking the blood sugar levels to delay or prevent nerve damage.
• Relieving pain is advised through the prescribed meditation.
• Manage complications and restore the function of the different organs by consulting separate specialists to prevent complications further.

Bottomline

This article covers the details of diabetic neuropathy and its reasons. There are mainly three neuropathies types: Peripheral, Autonomic, and Proximal. Causes, symptoms, and diagnosis of this condition are discussed so that the options of treatment through medication, surgery, or naturally with changes in lifestyle are well understood. Also know about ayurvedic medicine for diabetes.

FAQs

How Can I Prevent Diabetic Neuropathy?

If you want to prevent diabetic neuropathy and avoid its related complications, take a few steps every day for the best results. Some of the most effective and recommended measures include protecting your feet by keeping a check on them every day. You can start by keeping your feet clean and dry, moisturizing them, trimming the toenails, wearing clean socks, etc. The more you take care of your feet, the better.

How Can I Prevent Diabetic Neuropathy From Getting Worse?

Diabetic neuropathy can make life challenging for many people, but you can reduce it from getting worse by following a few effective measures. Some of the best steps you should consider taking include reporting the diabetic neuropathy symptoms to your doctor, not delaying the treatment, taking good care of your feet, getting special shoes (if required), exercising with caution, etc.