Is There a Cure for Diabetic Neuropathy?
A diabetes diagnosis can be scary. There are a lot of potential problems that can arise from the initial disease. Although diabetics are at risk for developing range serious conditions due to their body’s response to glucose, there are ways to prevent and reduce the risks associated with many of them. That includes neuropathy.
What is diabetic neuropathy?
Diabetics don’t produce insulin, which affects the body’s ability to metabolize glucose, otherwise known as sugar. In this day in age, sugar is in almost all types of processed food – which has a huge role in the American diet. This makes it hard for many diabetics to properly control their numbers, which can result in the higher risk of diabetic neuropathy.
Up to 65% of diabetics have some type of neuropathy. It often occurs when a patient has trouble controlling their glucose levels. Nerve damage, resulting from the excess glucose in the blood, can lead to eventually debilitating symptoms if it’s not properly diagnosed, treated, and managed.
How do you know you have diabetic neuropathy?
If you’re a diabetic, it’s important to be aware of the possibility that you may experience diabetic neuropathy. Understanding the symptoms, how it will make you feel, will allow for quick reaction of you, and your doctor. Symptoms include numbness or tingling pain that does not go away after moving the area of body, muscle loss, stomach issues, genital dysfunction, dizzy feeling when you stand up, and reduced ability to sense when blood sugar is low. Symptoms can vary from person to person, so you may not experience all of them at once. Take note of the ones you do experience, and contact your doctor to come up with a treatment plan.
Can diabetic neuropathy be cured?
The short answer is no, but it can be managed effectively, so do not lose hope.
Diabetic neuropathy results from permanent damage to the affected nerves. While you can’t regenerate those nerves, you can prevent further damage, and manage the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.
How is diabetic neuropathy treated?
To ensure you halt the progression of your diabetic neuropathy symptoms, it’s important to take a multi-pronged approach. This will guide your overall health, and assist you in preventing other diabetic complications from entering the equation. Talk to your doctor about establishing a team of professionals who can help you feel empowered when you take control over your health.
As a solid foundation, it’s important to learn about nutrition, and to implement a diabetes-friendly diet. Regular exercise is another vital ingredient, and it doesn’t have to be strenuous. Start slow, taking walks, and build upon your endurance. Ask your doctor about physical therapy. Your therapist can help you strengthen the affected area, and assist you in developing a fitness regimen.
The aforementioned steps will help keep your blood sugar in check, but you may also have options that help to alleviate your current neuropathy. Make your appointment with Premier Pain & Spine today, and ask your doctor if spinal cord stimulator implants, or specific pain medications, could provide you with relief.