About 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Why the high number? Diabetes makes it difficult for controlling blood sugar levels. Elevated blood sugar levels can result in permanent damage to feet and hand nerves. Damaged nerves struggle to carry messages between the brain and other parts of the body. Nerve damage in diabetics typically manifests after about 25 years of suffering with elevated blood sugars. If you or a loved one is currently battling the effects of diabetic peripheral neuropathy you can benefit from learning more about the following prevention and treatment tips.
What Symptoms Should You Watch Out For?
When it comes to symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, it is important to note that not all diabetics may have noticeable symptoms in spite of significant nerve damage. Others–as much as 50 percent of diabetics–may have symptoms such as pain, tingling, or numbness—loss of feeling—in the hands, arms, feet, and legs. Nerve problems can occur in every organ system, including the digestive tract, heart, and sex organs. The American Diabetes Association recommends visiting your doctor annually for a comprehensive exam of your skin, muscles, bones, circulation and feeling in your feet. When it comes to diabetes and diabetic neuropathy, prevention is key.
Preventing Diabetic Neuropathy–Your First Defense
Your best defense against diabetic neuropathy is a good offense. You have to be proactively planning to keep nerve damage at bay. Is nerve damage inevitable with diabetes? No! Research has shown that diabetics can reduce their risk of nerve damage by striving to keep their blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. This can be done through diet, exercise, and medications. Research has shown that prevention measures can help prevent the development of diabetic neuropathy in 60% of type-1 diabetics and can decrease the severity of the symptoms associated with the disease.
Slow Down the Progression of Nerve Damage
Again, prevention is key to keeping diabetic peripheral neuropathy at bay. The Mayo Clinic advises the following tips to slow nerve damage:
- Follow your doctor’s recommendations for good foot care
- Keep your blood pressure under control
- Follow a healthy-eating plan
- Get plenty of physical activity
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Stop smoking
- Avoid alcohol or, if drinking is allowed, drink only in moderation
Effective Treatments for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
When it comes to treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy, there are three main goals: 1) to slow the progression of the neuropathy; 2) to offer pain relief; and 3) to restore function and manage complications. Closely monitoring the hands and feet can help to prevent severe issues from occurring. Bringing blood sugar levels back to normal levels is key. Pain can be treated with various methods including: baths, analgesics, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants.
Alternative Treatments for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
The Mayo Clinic also offers a number of alternative treatments for treating the painful effects of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. They include:
- Capsaicin. When applied to the skin, capsaicin cream can reduce pain sensations in some people. Side effects may include a burning feeling and skin irritation.
- Alpha-lipoic acid. This powerful antioxidant is found in some foods and may help relieve the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Your doctor may prescribe this therapy, which can help prevent pain signals from reaching your brain. TENS delivers tiny electrical impulses to specific nerve pathways through small electrodes placed on your skin. Although safe and painless, TENS doesn’t work for everyone or for all types of pain.
- Acupuncture. Acupuncture may help relieve the pain of neuropathy, and generally doesn’t have any side effects. Keep in mind that you may not get immediate relief with acupuncture and will likely require more than one session.
Other Natural Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment Options
To avoid unnecessary procedures, surgeries or drugs, there are several other avenues you can pursue to get treatment results for your diabetic neuropathy symptoms such as:
- Anti-inflammatory nerve injections: Anti-inflammatory shots reduce inflammation and swelling in the area, which greatly diminishes the pressure on the surrounding nerves. The pain will dissipate as the pressure on the nerves is reduced. Pain relief is also immediate, due to the precise application of the treatment.
- Physical therapy: Depending on the cause, type, and symptoms of your peripheral neuropathy, the approach to care will vary. Many patients find relief and a return to functionality through various exercises and stretches that physical therapy prescribes.
- Exercise: Exercise triggers the release of natural painkillers called endorphins. It also supports healthy blood flow to the nerves in the legs and feet. Scientists believe that regular exercise fosters a long-lasting expansion in blood vessels in the feet, helping nurse damaged nerves back to health. Start by just getting moving. It doesn’t have to be far or fast, then gradually increase your pace and distance.
- Take a Warm Bath: Warm water temporarily increases blood flow to the legs and can help ease stress as well.
- Kinesio taping: Kinesio taping helps to relieve muscle load on compressed nerves. This can help with inflammation and pain symptoms.
- Massage Therapy: Massage therapy is a simple, safe holistic approach to treating nerve pain. The pressure placed on the painful area may feel uncomfortable at first but once the massaging of the tissue is felt deep within, the nerve pain often resides. Massage therapy helps increase blood flow which can help send vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants to damaged areas.
- Nutritional assessment: A great tool in assessing what is causing your neuropathy symptoms is a nutritional assessment. High blood sugar levels severely damage nerves, leading to further complications that only make it harder to stay healthy. 30% of nerve issues are caused by the damaging effects of diabetes. Many patients find out that they have severe nutrient deficiencies after a nutritional assessment and are amazed to see their symptoms disappear once they change to a balanced diet.
- LED Therapy: Research has shown how LEDs (light-emitting diodes) work in conjunction with medical devices to emit infrared (IR) light that helps dilate blood vessels at the site of treatment. Infrared light has the power to help trigger the release of nitric oxide from red blood cells and blood vessels at the site of treatment. Releasing nitric oxide improves circulation and blood flow that could be causing your neuropathy symptoms. Light therapy can safely, and naturally, treat your neuropathy symptoms without resorting to more invasive procedures or medications.
Together with your caregiver, you can establish a system of prevention, monitoring and treatment that can help you limit how diabetes affects you or a loved one. Take the steps necessary to fight for the quality of life you deserve!