Diabetic Neuropathy

What is diabetic neuropathy?

Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage affecting those with diabetes. Though anyone can develop nerve damage, also known as neuropathy, it’s prevalent in people with diabetes.

Diabetes causes higher than normal blood sugar levels. Over time, the excess sugar in the blood damages the nerves, affecting communication with your brain and spinal cord.

Diabetic neuropathy may affect any nerve in your body, but it most often affects the nerves in the legs and feet. 

What are the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy?

Diabetic neuropathy symptoms vary and may depend on the type of nerve damage you have. The types of nerve damage include:

Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type of diabetic neuropathy. This neuropathy affects the nerves in the feet and legs first and then the hands and arms.

With peripheral neuropathy, you may experience numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in your extremities. 

Autonomic neuropathy

Your autonomic nerves control the body systems you don’t think about, like digestion. Autonomic neuropathy means there’s damage to these nerves.

Symptoms of autonomic neuropathy may include urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence, or slow stomach emptying.

Proximal neuropathy

Proximal neuropathy is a type of diabetic neuropathy that affects the nerves in the hips, thighs, buttocks, or legs. With proximal neuropathy, you may have severe pain in these body parts, muscle weakness and wasting, and difficulty getting up from a sitting position.

Mononeuropathy

Mononeuropathy means you have damage to only one nerve. The damage may affect a peripheral nerve or a cranial nerve. Symptoms may include double vision, eye aches, facial paralysis, or numbness and tingling. 

How is diabetic neuropathy treated?

Treatment for your diabetic neuropathy depends on the type and severity of symptoms. One of the first steps in treating diabetic neuropathy is improving blood sugar control, helping to slow down the damage.

To ease nerve pain, the team at Louisiana Pain Specialists may recommend:

• Anti-seizure medication
• Antidepressants
• Nerve blocks
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Peripheral nerve stimulation
• Spinal cord stimulation

The team takes a balanced approach to pain management, developing a plan to provide the best relief from your symptoms. 

For help managing your diabetic neuropathy, call Louisiana Pain Specialists or schedule an appointment online today.