Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Diabetic Neuropathy - Making Diabetes Worse!

By Ned Dagostino

Thanks to lifestyle vices, diabetes has reached epidemic proportion in many countries. Severe and deadly as it is, diabetes gives rise to a number of even deadlier complications. Diabetic neuropathy, one such complication, is capable of turning the patient into a vegetable, and even causing a fatality. This disease attacks the nervous system, effectively deactivating the patient's ability to sense and respond to his surrounding, and, more importantly, to control his body's functioning.

Awareness is the prime weapon against any disease. So let it be with diabetic neuropathy! Here, we shall provide the most crucial informational facts about diabetic neuropathy, its symptoms, and its prophylaxis to help you to prevent getting it, or to mitigate it if you already suffer from it.

Diabetic neuropathy occurs in three forms: focal, peripheral, and autonomic. Focal neuropathy affects the nerves on an individual basis. Generally, but not exclusively, the nerves of the lower limbs are affected. Peripheral diabetic neuropathy affects the entire network of nerves comprising the peripheral nervous system. Autonomic diabetic neuropathy damages the nerves of the autonomic nervous system.

The predominant symptoms of diabetic neuropathy are given here for your information.

The patient feels abnormally hot or cold, and sometimes both.

The patient faces uncontrollable urges to urinate suddenly. The same effect may apply to bowel movement but to a lesser extent.

Severe indigestion symptomized by flatulence, eructations, regurgitation, and vomiting.

The patient suffers from sexual disorders which prevent sexual functionality.

The patient's circulatory system is affected, with episodes of palpitations, breathlessness, and poor circulation.

Since the nervous system is damaged, the patient may not be aware of wounds, cuts, and bites. He may not feel a rat nibbling at his feet. Wounds and sores on his back or the soles of his feet may go untended only because he can't feel their pain. This is potentially dangerous. What if he gets a severe cut on his foot and he bleeds away without realizing it?

Symptomatic relief of diabetic neuropathy is possible in a number of ways. Symptomatic relief does not imply relief of the underlying condition causing the symptom. The condition will remain, but its attendant side-effects can be relieved.

The patient's blood glucose should be closely monitored to prevent it from rising out of control and aggravating diabetic neuropathy. Medications for specific symptomatic problems can be availed of. Intolerable pain can be relieved with pain relievers. Sexual disorders can be treated using topical creams and lubricants. The patient should be regular in taking the treatment prescribed by a qualified physician. Diabetic neuropathy can be fatal! Take heed of the warning and make use of the information contained in this article, and diabetic neuropathy will surely recede into the past!

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