For patients struggling with diabetes, diabetic neuropathy is a common complication that specialists have warned them about. It is also known for being considerably unidentifiable and can cause a serious threat in its later stages. While neuropathy is usually discussed in cases of foot diseases, it can affect other parts of the body, causing numbness, pain, or even swelling.
Due to its silent nature, it has become essential for patients to get regular checkups in specialty clinics like KINS Diabetes to keep their overall health in check. These medical clinics not only provide effective solutions but the experts also cater to all their patients' personal needs.
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Unlike other types of nerve damage, diabetic neuropathy occurs when there is consistent pressure on the nerves of a region due to high blood pressure. This only occurs in diabetic patients and usually causes damage in the smaller blood vessels of the limbs. As the damage gets more severe over time, the affected region starts to be affected by numbness and lack of sensation.
There are various types of diabetic neuropathy, such as autonomic, proximal, and focal neuropathy. Most diabetic patients face diabetic neuropathy in Siliguri, commonly seen as peripheral neuropathy that affects the feet and hands.
This is the most common one and occurs in the limb regions. The symptoms of this condition tend to become severe during the night and cause sharp pains.
TThis form of neuropathy occurs when blood pressure impacts the autonomic nervous system, which controls functions such as heart rate, sweating, sex organs and bladder control.
These are found in rare cases and tend to cause severe weakness in the muscles of the hip, thighs and buttocks regions. This often affects only one side of the body and does not shift to the other side of the body.
In this form of diabetic neuropathy, only a single nerve is damaged in the whole region. This causes issues such as pain, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness. Mononeuropathy occurs when there is direct pressure on a certain nerve, such as sitting in certain positions for a long time or underlying conditions related to diabetes.
The pace at which diabetic neuropathy affects a patient tends to differ from individual to individual. Thus, it is important to remember that not all symptoms can be identified quickly. Some warning signs you can look out for are
If left untreated, diabetic neuropathy can cause serious complications which can compromise the overall well-being of diabetic patients. In most cases, these complications affect factors such as mobility and the healing pace of the body.
People with autonomic neuropathy aren't able to identify any warning signs related to hypoglycemia. This can be very risky and cause severe complications accompanied by shivering, sweating, and rapid heartbeats.
When the nerves of a diabetic patient are already stressed, they can have problems with controlling the bladder. This may cause them to face issues with bacteria buildup in the kidneys and bladder, as they are unable to fully empty the bladder.
The nerves controlling the sweat glands can also be heavily affected by diabetic neuropathy. This causes the patient to either sweat excessively or very little, making it hard for the body to control its temperature.
When nerve damage has affected any nerve in the digestive tract, diabetic patients tend to suffer from digestive issues such as constipation and diarrhea.
Severe damage to the nerves that support the flow of blood can cause issues with the body’s ability to readjust blood pressure. This can cause a drop in pressure and lead to feeling very lightheaded or dizzy.
In some patients, neuropathy also impacts the nerves in their sex organs, causing problems with arousal and often erectile dysfunction in men.
Due to damaged nerves, diabetic patients may not be able to identify cuts, sores, and ulcers in certain regions. This can turn into a severe infection, which may require minor or major amputation.
There are quite a few methods used for diagnosing diabetic neuropathy, but our Diabetologists in Siliguri usually start with a simple physical examination. During this, they may check for muscle strength, tone, reflexes and the sensitivity of the affected region. Here is a list of tests they may implement
This analyses the response of the nerves to changes in temperature as well as vibrations.
This involves the use of a soft nylon fibre to check the sensitivity of the affected region.
This test analyses the pace of the electric signals as they flow through the nerves in the arms and legs.
This is a specialised test that determines if a patient is sweating within a standard range.
This test analyses the electrical activity and its pace in the muscles of a patient.
Prevention of diabetic neuropathy focuses primarily on maintaining healthy blood sugar levels through regular monitoring and adherence to prescribed medication.
Make a point to monitor and control blood sugar daily to keep neuropathy at bay.
Aim for 30 minutes of exercise most days, which will help with blood flow and build insulin resistance.
Make sure to follow a diabetic-friendly diet which is rich in fibre and low in refined sugars.
Using these substances can cause serious restrictions in the blood flow. This only increases the chances of neuropathy.
To ensure you don't have any unidentified complications related to neuropathy, make sure to check your hands, legs and especially feet, daily for cuts, sores, or changes in skin colour.
To ensure you don't have any diabetes-related foot issues, it is recommended to visit the specialist at least once or twice a year.
