Diabetic Neuropathy - Complication Of The Nerves
Diabetes and nerves? Well what is diabetes got to do with
nerves?
If this is what at the top of your mind then this information is
for you.
According to a recent article published in the current opinion in
neurology,one of the most respected neurology journals,there are
multiple factors that cause diabetic neuropathy.
there is increasing evidence that abnormalities in the pylol
pathway,nerve regeneration and the sodium and calcium channels(the
systems and processes that are concerned with the transmission of
impulses through the nerves)are linked to the development of
diabetic neuropathy.
There are different types of neuropathies caused in connection
with diabetes and the most common among them is peripheral
neuropathy.The greatest danger from this type of neuropathy is the
development of foot ulcers.
Diabetes neuropathy may be of varying severity and severe
neuropathy can even result in weakness and loss of balence during
walking.The symptoms usually start as changes in sensation in the
toes and gradually moves up to involve the foot and then the
entire leg.Symptoms range from numbness to cramping and stabbing
pain.
Other neuropathies involving diabetics are:
Autonomic neuropathy: The autonomic nervous system supplies nerve
fibres to various parts of the body like the heart,the alimentary
tract, sweat glands,urinary bladder and the genitalia. The ANS
controls the automatic functions of the body, and autonomic
neuropathy might cause distruptions in the blood pressure,sweating
mechanism,diabetic diarrhea, and stomach malfunction, called
diabetic gastroparesis.
The occuerence of sexual dysfunction in both males and females is
now well recognised.Diabetes results in ED in 50-75% of men.more
than 50% of men develop ED within 10 years of the diagnosis and it
may precede the other complications of hdiabetes.In contrast with
research regarding the effects of male sexuality,the understanding
of how diabetes affects a womens sexuality is minimal.
Another type of neuropathy affecting diabetics is Diabetic
Mononeuropathy.This condition involves damage to a single nerve. A
common version of mononeuropathy usually affects a single nerve
leading to the muscles of one eye, and may cause double vision
(diplopia) when looking in certain directions.
Treatment
Treatments for diabetes neuropathy are most likely to be effective
if administered early in the course of the neuropathy,when
abnormalities of the peripheral nerves are more likely to be
reversible.People with diabetes should regularly be checked for
abnormal glucose metabolism,this helps in early detection of the
neuropathy.
Treatments for diabetes neuropathy range from application of
topical creams to regular medication over a period of time.The
symptoms of neuropathy may completely regress,sometimes even
without treatment,or decrease to a significant extent with
treatment.topical application of capsaicin cream has been found to
be a particularly safe and effective in symptomatic diabetic
neuropathy.Tight diabetes control remains the cornerstone of
theraphy for Diabetic neuropathy treatment and prevention of
further complications.
| Source : Current Opinion In Neurology |
Last
Modified : Oct 16, 2002. |
| Compiled and edited by
Editorial Team and approved by Expert Panel of DiabetoValens.com |
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