Awareness Can Beat Deadly Diabetic Neuropathy
August 27, 2009 by Ned Dagostino
Filed under Diabetes
Our modern lifestyle has made diabetes a commonplace disease. Diabetes leaves the patient vulnerable to many other complications. Diabetic neuropathy is one such extremely dangerous complication. Neuropathy indicates damage to the nervous system, and that is due to, in this particular case, the elevated blood glucose level that occurs in diabetes.
This article aims to inform you of this serious condition. The information will prove useful in preventing this condition, and, in case you do have it, in remedying it. We shall cover the basics of diabetic neuropathy, its symptoms, and the various treatments that can cure it.
The autonomic nervous system is at the very core of our existence. It controls the vital life functions like heartbeat and respiration. The autonomic nervous system fails, the patient dies, that’s it. The peripheral nervous system controls the sensory and motor functions. This helps us to become aware of our environment and to control muscular activity. The peripheral nervous system fails, the patient becomes a vegetable. Diabetic neuropathy is categorized as autonomic and peripheral diabetic neuropathy, depending on which particular nervous system it affects. The third category, focal diabetic neuropathy, affects individual nerves, not a system.
The symptomatic observations associated with diabetic neuropathy are listed below for your information. Use the information to detect this deadly disease.
Lack of control over body temperature, with the patient experiencing extreme temperature swings.
The patient faces uncontrollable urges to urinate suddenly. The same effect may apply to bowel movement but to a lesser extent.
Digestion-related problems like flatulence, belching, 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?
Diabetic neuropathy can be cured only when the underlying diabetes is cured. In the meanwhile, the patient can get relief from the problems associated with diabetic neuropathy in a number of ways.
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!



