Diabetes Neuropathy

Diabetes neuropathy is nerve damage caused by the effects of diabetes.  About 60 to 70% of people who are diagnosed with the disease will experience pain and loss of feeling.  Symptoms may include pain, tingling, numbness, and complete loss of feeling.  Nerve damage can affect every organ in the body but it usually starts in the feet, legs, hands, and arms.  This is due to the poor circulation that is associated with diabetes.

Patients with diabetes can experience nerve damage at any time but the incidence rates raise dramatically the longer you have the disease.  There also seems to be a direct correlation between people who experience neuropathy and those who can not or do not control blood glucose levels, are obese, and have high blood pressure.

Different forms of diabetes neuropathy have various causes and currently researchers are looking into the possible relationships between long periods of high blood glucose levels and nerve damage.  Concrete results are not available yet but the following seem to be predicators of nerve damage.

• Damage to the blood vessels that carry nutrients and oxygen to the nerves.  One of the results of diabetes is a malfunctioning of the circulatory system especially in the extremities.
• Extended periods of high glucose levels and the length of time a patient has had the condition.  This is a very good reason to keep your glucose levels in the range suggested by your doctor.
• Genetic factors such as inherited predisposition to nerve damage that may go along with an increase of the disease itself.  Not all diabetics suffer from nerve damage so it would seem that some people may have a disposition to this while others don't.
• Smoking and excessive alcohol use also may have a direct correlation.  If you have diabetes you should instantly stop both these bad habits as they will do nothing but cause you extra problems.
• Immune system malfunctioning also may be a factor.  The body tries several ways to deal with the diabetes and some of these may actually make the symptoms worse.

Not all diabetics will experience neuropathy and you can decrease your chances of experience nerve damage by following your doctor's orders exactly.

If you think you may be experiencing diabetes neuropathy contact your doctor and have him or her exam you.  There are two main nervous system mechanisms that are affected in the extremities when a person has nerve damage.  These are the ability to experience light touch and to experience painful touch.  Both or either of these can be affected by the nerve damage so your physician will check both.  Usually for the light touch a piece of monofilament line like a fishing line is rubbed on the skin to check for feeling.  For the pain sensation a pin prick is usually used.

If you have diabetes you will have much better luck treating it if you are well informed.  Listen to what your doctor says and follow all of his or her directions.  In addition to this continue to look for answers by doing your own research.  Don't be intimidated by the word research.  It just means vising as many internet sites as you can and reading as many books as possible on the subject.

Commit today to finding out all you can about diabetes and how to treat it.  In future years you will be glad you did.

The best way to treat the nerve damage is to stop any further deterioration as most of the time repair of the nerves is not possible.  You must learn to keep your blood glucose levels within a tight band by eating the proper foods and testing frequently as needed.  If your doctor has prescribed insulin be sure to take it absolutely how you have been instructed.