Diabetic neuropathy: Causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment

Dr Arjun Srivatsa speaks about diabetic neuropathy – a condition that affects the nerves and can have serious complications.

By: Dr Arjun Srivatsa | | Updated: May 21, 2014 12:28 pm

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According to leading diabetologists diabetes is not just a blood sugar problem, it is a vascular disorder. That means that diabetes affects the entire body including your nerves. Renowned neurosurgeon Dr Arjun Srivatsa writes more about diabetic neuropathy – a condition that affects the nerves and can have serious complications. Also Read - Air pollution alone can significantly up your risk of type 2 diabetes

The cry of the dying nerves

In diabetic patients who have had the condition for a long time, the nerves get affected and causes various symptoms of nerve damage. This is because the nerves receive progressively lesser blood supply due to constricted blood vessels. Since, it can affect any kind of nerve in the body, the symptoms can be as varied as numbness (either localized or al over the body) to urinary problems.

Depending on the type of nerve being affected, the disease can been classified into 4 types – peripheral, autonomic, proximal and focal. Peripheral would mean that the peripheral nerves being affected and so symptoms of numbness tingling in the periphery. Autonomic would mean affection of nerves of the visceral systems like the digestive system, urinary system, etc. proximal neuropathy would mean the proximal muscles are affected and in focal, specific nerve gets affected causing defects only in those nerve distribution.

Symptoms vary according to the part affected

Based on the type of neuropathy described above the symptoms can be

If the skin in general is affected, there is tingling, numbness, burning (especially in the evening) and pain
If the digestive system is affected there is bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, heartburn, nausea and vomitting
If the urinary system affected, the patient is unable to completely empty the bladder, bloating, incontinence (leaking urine) and increased urination at night
Other symptoms can be blacking out when you stand up quickly, increased heart rate, dizziness, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, early fullness

Keeping blood sugar levels in check is key

Monitoring blood glucose levels frequently and ensuring that they are under check helps. Foot care treatment to prevent infections and ulcers due to the lack of sensation may be required in some cases. In case of severe pain, drugs to help alleviate the pain – tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants like pregabalin, carbamezapine, opiod and oipiod like drugs do help. (Read: Take regular foot assessment test if you have diabetes)

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

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Published : November 8, 2013 6:31 pm | Updated:May 21, 2014 12:28 pm

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