By Robert S. Nelson
Neuropathy is nerve damage as a result of constantly high blood glucose levels. This is a complication of diabetes that can impact any part of the body. When damage occurs it can strike any of our vital organs. Some individuals never have any symptoms of nerve damage while others may have numbness or pain in their hands, feet, arms and legs.
Nerve damage is very commonplace affecting nearly 60% - 70% of all diabetics. You have a greater chance of getting neuropathy as you age and if you've had diabetes for a number of years. If you have suffered from diabetes for 25 years or even longer then you are at the greatest risk of developing nerve damage. Some of the other factors which could make you a high risk for nerve damage are not managing your blood sugar effectively, being too heavy, having high concentrations of blood fat as well as having high blood pressure.
It is unknown what actually causes nerve damage but there are those who believe several factors contribute to this complication. Below are some possibilities:
* Autoimmune disorder - when the body attacks its own cells
* Metabolism - your sugar levels are too high and you've had diabetes for a long time
* Behavior - consuming alcoholic beverages and smoking
* Your genes - you may have inherited a sensitivity to this disorder
There are different types of symptoms with neuropathy based on which nerves are affected. As mentioned previously there may be no symptoms at all, but others may feel pain or tingling in their hands, legs, arms and feet. The symptoms can be so subtle that you may not even realize that you have any. On the other hand, for some individuals the pain comes on suddenly and is severe especially for those with focal neuropathy.
The following lists some of the possible symptoms:
* Pain, numbness or tingling located in the feet, legs, arms and hands
* Having diarrhea, vomiting, nausea or being constipated
* Being dizzy, faint or light-headed
* Trouble focusing or pain behind one eye
* Sexual problems
* Bladder problems
* Irregular heart beat
* Weakness in the legs
The following shows the four different types of nerve damage and how they affect the body:
* Autonomic neuropathy - impacts the involuntary system like your heart, lungs and digestion. Should the autonomic nervous system be compromised problems will be experienced with the eyes, heart, lungs, digestion, bowel movements, sexual response and others functions. The area that is affected will determine the type and severity of your symptoms.
* Peripheral Neuropathy - targets the nerves to your feet, hands,legs and arms and is the most common type of neuropathy. The leg contains the longest nerves and as a result these are the ones that are damaged more frequently.
* Focal neuropathy - depending on the nerve that is damaged is can cause muscle weakness or pain. The areas that can be affected are the legs, torso and more commonly the head, in particular the eyes.
* Proximal neuropathy - affects the legs, hips, buttocks and thighs causing pain as well as muscle weakness. This will affect your ability to move around and is most often found the elderly.
Both a physical exam and a neurological exam are necessary to determine if you have any nerve damage. In addition to the routine medical checkup that all doctors give they will also look for any tender or painful region and will also check your mobility. In addition, there will be tests to check your reaction to different stimuli such as touch, temperature and vibration.
Maintaining safe blood glucose levels is the best treatment for nerve damage. This is actually the only means you have which will keep this disorder from getting worse. Although medication is available they only relieve the symptoms.
Neuropathy is nerve damage as a result of constantly high blood glucose levels. This is a complication of diabetes that can impact any part of the body. When damage occurs it can strike any of our vital organs. Some individuals never have any symptoms of nerve damage while others may have numbness or pain in their hands, feet, arms and legs.
Nerve damage is very commonplace affecting nearly 60% - 70% of all diabetics. You have a greater chance of getting neuropathy as you age and if you've had diabetes for a number of years. If you have suffered from diabetes for 25 years or even longer then you are at the greatest risk of developing nerve damage. Some of the other factors which could make you a high risk for nerve damage are not managing your blood sugar effectively, being too heavy, having high concentrations of blood fat as well as having high blood pressure.
It is unknown what actually causes nerve damage but there are those who believe several factors contribute to this complication. Below are some possibilities:
* Autoimmune disorder - when the body attacks its own cells
* Metabolism - your sugar levels are too high and you've had diabetes for a long time
* Behavior - consuming alcoholic beverages and smoking
* Your genes - you may have inherited a sensitivity to this disorder
There are different types of symptoms with neuropathy based on which nerves are affected. As mentioned previously there may be no symptoms at all, but others may feel pain or tingling in their hands, legs, arms and feet. The symptoms can be so subtle that you may not even realize that you have any. On the other hand, for some individuals the pain comes on suddenly and is severe especially for those with focal neuropathy.
The following lists some of the possible symptoms:
* Pain, numbness or tingling located in the feet, legs, arms and hands
* Having diarrhea, vomiting, nausea or being constipated
* Being dizzy, faint or light-headed
* Trouble focusing or pain behind one eye
* Sexual problems
* Bladder problems
* Irregular heart beat
* Weakness in the legs
The following shows the four different types of nerve damage and how they affect the body:
* Autonomic neuropathy - impacts the involuntary system like your heart, lungs and digestion. Should the autonomic nervous system be compromised problems will be experienced with the eyes, heart, lungs, digestion, bowel movements, sexual response and others functions. The area that is affected will determine the type and severity of your symptoms.
* Peripheral Neuropathy - targets the nerves to your feet, hands,legs and arms and is the most common type of neuropathy. The leg contains the longest nerves and as a result these are the ones that are damaged more frequently.
* Focal neuropathy - depending on the nerve that is damaged is can cause muscle weakness or pain. The areas that can be affected are the legs, torso and more commonly the head, in particular the eyes.
* Proximal neuropathy - affects the legs, hips, buttocks and thighs causing pain as well as muscle weakness. This will affect your ability to move around and is most often found the elderly.
Both a physical exam and a neurological exam are necessary to determine if you have any nerve damage. In addition to the routine medical checkup that all doctors give they will also look for any tender or painful region and will also check your mobility. In addition, there will be tests to check your reaction to different stimuli such as touch, temperature and vibration.
Maintaining safe blood glucose levels is the best treatment for nerve damage. This is actually the only means you have which will keep this disorder from getting worse. Although medication is available they only relieve the symptoms.
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