Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain or temperature changes, especially in your feet and toes. A tingling or burning feeling. Sharp, jabbing pain that may be worse at night. Extreme sensitivity to touch — for some people even the weight of a sheet can be painful.
The most common symptoms of diabetic neuropathy are numbness, tingling, a burning feeling, aching, cramps and weakness. Symptoms often begin in their feet or hands. These symptoms may later spread to their legs and arms.
Causes of diabetic neuropathy
Over time, high blood glucose (sugar) levels can damage the small blood vessels that supply the nerves in your body. This stops essential nutrients reaching the nerves. As a result, the nerve fibres can become damaged, and they may disappear.
Those with a value of 6.5 percent or higher are considered diabetic. About 30 percent of patients with frank diabetes for more than a decade have some neuropathy. It usually presents as numbness, itching or tingling in the legs but can also be pains.
Alcohol – Alcohol is a toxin that can damage nerve cells and worsen neuropathy symptoms. It is best to avoid alcohol if you are living with neuropathy. caffeine – Caffeine can irritate the nerves and make neuropathy symptoms worse. It is best to limit or avoid caffeine if you are experiencing nerve pain.
Most believe only diabetics suffer from peripheral neuropathy. And rightly so since somewhere between 60-70% of people with diabetes end up with nerve damage. As with most things, however, that's not the case. The truth is that anybody can suffer from this condition.
The main medicines recommended for neuropathic pain include: amitriptyline – also used for treatment of headaches and depression. duloxetine – also used for treatment of bladder problems and depression. pregabalin and gabapentin – also used to treat epilepsy, headaches or anxiety.
What medication is commonly prescribed for neuropathy in diabetic patients? Cymbalta (duloxetine), Neurontin (gabapentin), and Lyrica (pregabalin) are the three most prescribed medications for neuropathy in diabetic patients.
B vitamins are known for their ability to support healthy nervous system function. Vitamins B-1, B-6, and B-12 have been found to be especially beneficial for treating neuropathy. Vitamin B-1, also known as thiamine, helps to reduce pain and inflammation and vitamin B-6 preserves the covering on nerve endings.
A quick and easy way to test this at home is touching the 1st, 3rd and 5th toes of both feet with your index finger. This can be performed by either you or a family member. The test is positive for diminished sensitivity if you cannot feel the foot being touched or it is different from the unaffected side.
When you have diabetes, high glucose levels in the blood can damage nerves and blood vessels. Because the nerves and blood vessels supplying the feet are so long and delicate, the feet — and especially the toes — often get affected first.
Diabetic dermopathy
The spots look like red or brown round patches or lines in the skin and are common in people with diabetes. They appear on the front of your legs (your shins) and are often confused with age spots. The spots don't hurt, itch, or open up.
Drink lots of water
Water should be a staple in any diet, and even more so for those looking to reduce nerve pain. It's critical to stay hydrated throughout the day to reduce inflammation and avoid triggering pain receptors. Aim to drink eight 8-oz. of water each day.
Vicks Vapor Rub® – Massaging one's feet with Vicks, particularly at night, soothes neuropathic pain and distress in one's feet and legs. It is also excellent for softening your toe nails and diminishing common toe nail problems. Warm/Cool Baths and Showers - Excellent de-stressors and can help with reducing pain.
Mean survival time for those with PN was 10.8 years, compared with 13.9 years for subjects without PN. PN was also indirectly associated through impaired balance.
But that doesn't mean abdominal weight gain should be ignored. It can be an early sign of so-called "diabetic belly," a build-up of visceral fat in your abdomen which may be a symptom of type 2 diabetes and can increase your chances of developing other serious medical conditions.
Wear socks in bed if your feet are cold at night. Do not use a hot water bottle or heating pad on your feet. Always check your shoes before you put them on. Look and feel inside them for anything that could cause discomfort or injury, such as pebbles, a torn lining, or rough spots.
Typically, epsom salt soaks are not recommended for people with diabetes. The primary reason is that such soaks can dry out the feet. When the skin is dry it is more vulnerable to cracking and chafing, which can lead to skin lesions and wounds, which if not properly attended to can lead to ulcerations.
A 2-wk course of tart cherry juice significantly improved nondiabetic peripheral neuropathy in the majority of patients in the study. None of the patients reported any adverse effects from the treatment.
Replacing those items with foods that contain unsaturated fats, such as fish, peanut butter, avocados, olives, almonds, plant-based oils and seeds, can be beneficial.
Caffeine is a stimulant that can interfere with nerve signals and worsen the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. This includes beverages such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks. It is best to limit your intake of caffeine if you have peripheral neuropathy.