What Are The Symptoms Of Diabetic Neuropathy?

Neuropathy means damage to the nerves and their illness. Many diseases can cause damage to the nerves. The most common of these is diabetes. In the content of our article, you, our valuable friends, can find detailed answers to your questions about Can diabetic neuropathy be treated? and Causes of diabetic neuropathy. So What are the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy?

High blood sugar in diabetes has harmful effects on the nerves as well as many other organs. Thus, diabetes makes the nerves sick, damages them and prevents them from working properly. The damage to the nerves by high blood sugar occurs in different ways, both different from each other and interconnected. The metabolism of nerve cells and proteins that have important functions in the cells are disrupted. On the other hand, the vessels that feed the nerves are damaged. Since the nerves do not get sick in a simple, single way, the drugs used in its treatment do not provide a definitive solution. In studies conducted on those diagnosed with diabetes, the frequency of diabetic neuropathy has been reported to vary greatly, from 10% to 90%.

The frequency varies depending on how long the patients have been diabetic and also on the method of assessing neuropathy. In studies conducted on patients based on questionnaires and examinations, the frequency of neuropathy is low, and if devices such as those measuring nerve conduction velocity, measuring vibration perception, EMG, etc. are included in the assessment methods, it is higher. In a study investigating the frequency of neuropathy in diabetic patients in Turkey, the frequency of neuropathy was reported as 41% with clinical examination, and as 63% if nerve conduction studies were also added to the assessment. You can reach more detailed information about diabetic neuropathy symptoms by continuing our article.

What are the Causes of Diabetic Neuropathy?

Diabetic Neuropathy Symptoms

– Weight loss,
– Bladder problems,
– Night diarrhea,
– Constipation,
– Vomiting,
– Nausea,
– Atrophy in the muscles of the hands and feet,
– Numbness, burning, tingling, coldness and stinging in the hands and feet starting from the fingertips,
– Dizziness and fainting due to a drop in blood pressure when standing up suddenly,
– Erectile dysfunction in men,
– Sexual dysfunction in women.

At the beginning of diabetic neuropathy, there are symptoms such as mild numbness, tingling, burning and chills in the hands and feet, while in advanced cases, symptoms such as severe pain, skin color changes and muscle wasting manifest themselves. In more advanced cases, symptoms called diabetic autonomic neuropathy, which also affect internal organs such as the stomach, intestines and heart, begin to appear. With damage to the autonomic and pain nerve fibers of the heart, silent myocardial infarction, heart attacks that the patient does not notice, are also rare conditions that can be encountered during the course of diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy is most commonly seen in the hands and feet, symmetrical, and affects both emotional and motor nerves. In diabetic neuropathy, the peripheral nervous system can be affected in different ways.

Apart from these, there are also types that affect only one nerve or multiple nerves. Damage can also occur in the cranial nerves. Autonomic neuropathy is one of the most feared types because it can cause sudden drops in blood pressure or heart rhythm problems. Diabetic neuropathy can affect the sheath structures of peripheral nerve extensions, as well as directly affect the axon or both. The type of this effect can also cause changes in the symptoms of the disease.

Diabetic neuropathy is diagnosed by history of the disease and a detailed neurological examination. Blood pressure, blood velocity, muscle strength, superficial sensory impairment, vibration and joint position are examined during the examination. If the doctor deems it necessary, some tests are also requested. The main ones are; EMG (nerve conduction test), Heart rate variability and sweating function measurement, Bladder functions, Nerve biopsy, Skin punch biopsy.

How is Diabetic Neuropathy Treated?

Diabetic neuropathy treatment is primarily to control diabetes. It is to regulate blood sugar well and provide diabetes education. Tricyclic antidepressants are preferred for pain control, anticonvulsants for patients experiencing electric shock sensations, and quinine sulfate for painful cramps. Recently, alpha lipolic acid has been giving good results. These treatments are generally long-term treatments. Exercise is also a very important protection method. Autonomic neuropathy is the most difficult form of diabetic neuropathy to treat due to its facilitating effect on drug treatment and facilitating glycemic control. Treatment options are usually limited in these patients. Varicose stockings can be useful, especially in patients with orthostatic hypotension. In patients with autonomic neuropathy, receiving general anesthesia can carry significant risks.

What are the Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy, there is no definitive treatment for diabetic neuropathy yet. However, there are many different drug treatments for conditions that cause neuropathy and for eliminating the pain caused by neuropathy. If you have questions about our article on what are the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, you can ask us in the comments section or on our social networks. You can share our page on what are the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy with your friends so that they can be informed, and you can inform your friends about our article on what are the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

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