Diabetic neuropathy is one of the major complications of diabetes, it is a progressive disease in which the symptoms take a toll on you over time.
Some affect the peripheral nerves while others affect and damage the nerves that are in charge of motion control, sensation, and other functions in the body. According to the national institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases, about half of the total population of people with diabetes also have neuropathy.
In this article, we will explore the reason why neuropathy occurs, how to manage the pain that comes with it, and the best kind of treatment to use.
Why neuropathy occurs in diabetes
Diabetes occurs as a result of high levels of fats and sugar in the bloodstream. This occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to process sugar in the body.
when your blood sugar is out of control, this tends to damage the nerves in your body and interfere with their abilities to send signals to the brain. As a result, you will experience numbness, prickling, or tingling in your hands and feet. This happens to be the early signs of diabetic neuropathy.
How Long Does Diabetic Neuropathy Take To Develop
There is no actual time frame as to how long it takes for neuropathy to develop. Some develop slowly over the course some months and even years, others develop instant and escalate rapidly.
It is important to know that there are over one hundred types of neuropathies and they each develop differently. How fast your condition develops and how quickly the symptoms manifest depends greatly on the type of nerve damage and the factor that contributed to the condition.
Managing neuropathy pain and complications
Diabetic neuropathy as we all know can cause chronic pain. Diabetes itself has its own complications, neuropathy happens to be one of them. The goal is to figure out what is responsible for this and treat it if possible.
The most common treatment that you can use to manage neuropathic pain includes;
Pain medications:
Using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Motrin and Aleve has proven effective in relieving neuropathic pain for some people.
However, the same cannot be said for everyone as many people have reported that these drugs proved ineffective for them. This is because it fails to target the source and cause of pain.
TENS therapy:
TENS therapy is one of the most effective pain treatment methods. It relieves pain by sending electrical signals from your skin down to the nerves. These signals release endorphins (an enzyme your body uses to manage pain). It also blocks the pain signal from reaching the brain as well as improves blood flow in affected areas.
Massage therapy:
Massage therapy is one of the best pain relief techniques when dealing with neuropathy-related pains. it provides relief by claiming down your muscles and taking away tension.
It also improves blood circulation in the feet and other affected areas, and above all, it increases oxygen levels in the blood. Some massage techniques suitable for neuropathy include reflexology, acupressure, nerve-stroking, and stretching.
These techniques sometimes require you to see a massage therapist for them to be carried out effectively. Alternatively, you can get the best foot massagers for neuropathy and carry out each of these techniques in the comfort of your own home.
What is the best treatment for diabetic neuropathy
At this time, there is no definite cure for diabetic neuropathy. One thing you can do is adjust your lifestyle because this is basically what’s making your diabetes worse. Some aspects of your lifestyle you need to watch out for include;
Blood sugar levels:
One way you can prevent or delay nerve damage is by making sure your blood sugar levels are constantly within the target range. Keeping your blood sugar in check can also help improve your current symptoms.
Choose healthy foods:
It is important to have a healthy food choice, it helps prevent certain health conditions. A healthy diet has lots of benefits that include healthy weight and weight loss as well.
You should focus on eating a variety of healthy foods which includes, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. While consuming these, you also want to limit the portion in which you consume them, this will help you to maintain a good healthy weight.
Be active regularly:
Exercise has proven helpful when it comes to lowering blood sugar levels. It not only lowers your blood sugar; it also improves blood circulation in the body and gives you a healthy heart.
There are lots of exercises you can engage in, but it’s best to talk to your health care provider before you begin to exercise.
This way, they can help you figure out what type of exercise suit your condition. For example, some exercises may be bad for you if you constantly have heel pain or injury, or soreness on your lower feet. You might want to stay clear of any exercise that requires you to put more weight on your feet if you have any of these conditions.
Conclusion:
People with diabetic neuropathy tend to not feel injuries on their feet, this is a result of numbness which is a common symptom of neuropathy. It’s important you inspect your feet regularly, that way you can detect when your feet are infected.
Also keep in mind that neuropathy can be reversed if you keep to a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, and have good healthy food choices. Ensure to always get a massage as often as possible because this is the only way you can get relief from your neuropathy pain.