Diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that is seen in people who have diabetes. This makes it difficult for the nerves to carry messages to the brain and parts of the body. Diabetic neuropathy can result in numbness or painful tingling in different parts of the body.

Diabetic neuropathy can result in various changes in the body like:

Loss of strength and feeling of weakness in different parts of the body

The ability of the heart to meet with the needs of the body

The ability of the body to digest food

In men it can impair the ability to have an erection

Pathophysiology of Diabetic neuropathy

The factors that cause diabetic neuropathy have not been understood completely. However, there are a number of factors that are considered to be responsible for this damage. Some of the proposed theories for the occurrence of diabetes neuropathy include:

Metabolic theory: This proposes that diabetes causes increase in the glucose in the nerves, which causes saturation of the normal glycolitic pathway. This results in increase of sorbitol and fructose that decrease the nerve activity and inhibits the transmission through nerves.

Vascular Theory: As per this theory endoneurial ischemia is formed that increases the vascular resistance to the hyperglycemic blood. This results in nerve damage.

Altered neurotrophic support theory: The neurotrophic factors are responsible for the maintenance and development of the responsive elements of the nerves. If there is alteration in these systems then it can result in nerve damage.

Laminin theory: Lack of the glycoprotein Laminin can result in nerve damage.

Autoimmune theory: IF there is any alteration in the immunogenic system then it can result in nerve damage.

Diabetic neuropathy is seen to occur more frequently in male patients suffering from diabetes rather than female patients. Moreover it is seen to occur in patients where diabetes is severe.

Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy

You can get to know if you have diabetic neuropathy when you observe numbness in your toes and feet and you don t feel the same pain when you hurt your leg. Some of the other symptoms of diabetes neuropathy include:

Feeling of pain or a burning in your legs

You feel lightheaded and tend to fall

Diarrhea and constipation

In men if failure to get an erection is observed

Types of diabetes neuropathy

There are basically four types of diabetic neuropathies:

Peripheral Neuropathy: In this type of neuropathy the legs and the feet are the most affected. The nerve damage in the foot can result in loss of sensation and the wounds can go un-noticed. It is important to keep the blood sugar under control to prevent this from occurring. You should keep examining your foot everyday and wear proper footwear and keep them on all the time. if your feet are dry then you should moisten them regularly.

Autonomic Neuropathy: This affects the digestive system or the sex organs and the urinary system. If this type of neuropathy is present then you can observe bloating, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and vomiting etc. You should try and have smaller meals and consult your doctor for medication.

Proximal Neuropathy: This causes pain in the hips, thighs or buttocks and can cause weakness in the legs. Your physician would give you treatment for weakness and pain. However, the recovery varies depending on the type of the nerve damage. You can prevent this by keeping the glucose under control.

Focal Neuropathy: Diabetic neuropathy can also appear in some of the cases in the head, neck and torso, which results in pain or muscle weakness. If you observe, double vision, eye pain, paralysis on one side of the face (Bell's palsy), severe pain in a certain area, such as the lower back or leg(s), chest or abdominal pain that is sometimes mistaken for another condition such as heart attack or appendicitis.

Preventing diabetic neuropathy

The most essential thing when you have diabetic neuropathy is to keep your blood sugar under control. Whatever medicines the doctor would have prescribed you should be taken regularly and if you observe any symptoms you should immediately report to your doctor.

If you are overweight then you should ask your doctor about how to reduce your weight and you should exercise for at least 4-6 hours in a week. Your doctor can advise you on which exercise would be best for you.

To prevent your foot from getting damaged when you have diabetes neuropathy you should keep checking your feet every now and then and make sure that you check your footwear for any gravels and things that can damage your feet.

You should wear white socks and make sure that when you remove them you check them for any bloodstains or pus oozing from a sore.

You should wash your feet everyday with lukewarm water and make sure that the area between the toes is washed properly. Dont let your feet crack and keep them moisturized by applying lotion You should use a soft towel on your feet and should not rub them hard.

If your feet tend to sweat then you should apply non-medicated powder before you wear your socks or shoes.

You should not walk barefoot and avoid things that are bad for your feet. You should avoid wearing stretch socks, nylon socks, socks with inside seams, or socks with an elastic band or garter at the top. You should not pour hot water or use electric blankets or any heating pads for your feet. Also do not use hydrogen peroxide or astringents or iodine on your feet.

Diabetic neuropathy

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