Living with diabetes can be a challenge, especially when it comes to managing the symptoms of diabetes-related neuropathy. Neuropathy caused by diabetes is a form of nerve injury that can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands, feet, and other body parts. In this blog post, we’ll explore what diabetic neuropathy is, how it affects the body, its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, complications, and prevention. We’ll also discuss how to live with diabetic neuropathy and the best strain for diabetic neuropathy.
What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
Did you know that almost fifty percent of people with diabetes will develop nerve damage? This nerve damage, known as diabetic neuropathy, is a significant condition that can lead to a number of further issues.
There are four main kinds of nerve damage caused by diabetes:
- Peripheral neuropathy: This affects the nerves in your feet, legs, and hands.
- Autonomic neuropathy: This type affects the nerves that control your heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion.
- Proximal neuropathy: This affects the nerves in your hips, thighs, or buttocks.
- Focal neuropathy: This type affects a specific nerve, such as the nerve in your eye or the nerve that controls your facial muscles.
How Does Diabetic Neuropathy Affect the Body?
Diabetes-related neuropathy is a form of nerve injury that can affect diabetics. Numerous symptoms are caused by high blood sugar levels that harm the nerves. Here are some of the bodily effects of diabetic neuropathy:
- Pain: Diabetic neuropathy can cause pain, tingling, and burning sensations in the hands, feet, arms, and legs.
- Numbness: People with diabetic neuropathy may experience numbness in their extremities, making it difficult to feel sensations like heat and cold.
- Weakness: Diabetic neuropathy can cause muscle weakness, making it difficult to move or walk.
- Digestive problems: Diabetic neuropathy can cause digestive issues, such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation.
- Autonomic neuropathy: This diabetic neuropathy affects the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion.
- Vision problems: Diabetic neuropathy can cause vision problems, such as blurred vision, double vision, and difficulty focusing.
- Foot problems: Diabetic neuropathy can cause foot problems, such as ulcers, infections, and deformities.
What Are the Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy?
Knowing the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy can help you get the treatment you need to manage your condition. Here are some of the most common symptoms of diabetic neuropathy:
- Numbness or tingling in the feet, legs, hands, and arms
- Pain or burning sensation in the affected area
- Loss of sensation in the affected area
- Muscle weakness or cramps
- Difficulty walking or standing
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea
- Sexual dysfunction
- Slow healing of wounds
- Increased sensitivity to touch
How is Diabetic Neuropathy Diagnosed?
Diabetic neuropathy is a common consequence of diabetes that can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the extremities, among other symptoms. If you are suffering any of these symptoms, you must receive a proper diagnosis to discover the underlying reason and begin therapy. Typical methods for diagnosing diabetic neuropathy include the following:
1. Physical Exam: Your doctor will examine your feet and legs to check for any signs of nerve damage, such as numbness, tingling, or pain.
2. Blood Tests: Blood tests can help to identify any underlying conditions that may be causing your symptoms, such as diabetes or vitamin deficiencies.
3. Nerve Conduction Studies: This test measures the electrical activity of your nerves to determine if there is any nerve damage.
4. Imaging Tests: Imaging tests such as an MRI or CT scan can help to identify any structural abnormalities in the nerves or spinal cord.
5. Electromyography: This test measures the electrical activity of your muscles to determine if there is any nerve damage.
6 Skin Biopsy: A skin biopsy can help to identify any damage to the small nerve fibres in the skin.
You can begin treatment and manage your symptoms by getting a proper diagnosis.
What Are the Treatment Options for Diabetic Neuropathy?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating diabetic neuropathy, as the best treatment depends on your condition’s specific symptoms and severity. However, common treatments include:
1. Physical Therapy: Physical therapy can help to improve the range of motion and flexibility in your extremities. This can reduce pain and discomfort in affected areas.
2. Pain Management: Treatment for chronic pain may include medications, supplements, or physical therapy sessions. Often effective for reducing inflammation and improving nerve function.
3. Chiropractic Care: Chiropractors may treat diabetic neuropathy by improving nerve function and reducing inflammation.
4. Obesity Intervention: Weight loss can help to reduce the strain on your nerves caused by obesity. If you are suffering from diabetic neuropathy, it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible.
5. Pain Medication: Pain medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids can help reduce the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.
6. Antidepressants: Antidepressants can help reduce the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.
7. Topical Treatments: Topical treatments such as capsaicin cream and lidocaine patches can help reduce the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.
8. Nerve Stimulation: Nerve stimulation techniques such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and spinal cord stimulation can help reduce the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.
9. Surgery: Surgery may be an option for some people with diabetic neuropathy. Surgery can help reduce the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy by removing the damaged nerves.
What Are the Complications of Diabetic Neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy is a condition that results in the deterioration of the pain-sensitive nerve cells in the feet and lower legs. This can cause chronic pain, loss of sensation, and even paralysis.
Several complications can arise from diabetic neuropathy, including:
#1. Loss of sensation: Diabetic neuropathy can cause a loss of sensation in the affected areas. This can lead to a lack of awareness of injuries, such as cuts or blisters, which can become infected if left untreated.
#2. Muscle weakness: Diabetic neuropathy can cause muscle weakness, leading to difficulty walking or standing.
#3. Autonomic neuropathy: This is a type of diabetic neuropathy that affects the autonomic nervous system. This can lead to problems with digestion, blood pressure, and heart rate.
#4. Foot ulcers: Diabetic neuropathy can cause a loss of sensation in the feet, leading to foot ulcers. These ulcers can become infected and can even lead to amputation if left untreated.
#5. Charcot foot: Diabetic neuropathy causes Charcot foot, a condition in which the bones in the foot break down. This can lead to deformity and disability.
#6. Heart disease: Diabetic neuropathy can increase the risk of heart disease, as it can cause damage to the nerves that control the heart.
#7 Kidney disease: Diabetic neuropathy can also increase the risk of kidney disease, as it can cause damage to the nerves that control the kidneys.
How Can Diabetic Neuropathy Be Prevented?
The optimal method for preventing diabetic neuropathy will differ depending on your unique circumstances. However, the following general hints may prove useful:
• Monitor your blood sugar levels: Keeping your blood sugar levels within the target range can help prevent nerve damage. Make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions to monitor your blood sugar levels and take any necessary medications.
• Exercise regularly: Physical activity can improve glucose control and avoid nerve damage. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.
• Eat a healthy diet: Eating a balanced diet that is low in sugar, and saturated fat can help keep your blood sugar levels in check.
• Quit smoking: If you smoke, your risk of nerve damage goes up. Talk to your doctor about how to stop smoking if you do.
• Take care of your feet: Diabetic neuropathy can cause numbness in your feet, which can lead to injuries. Make sure to inspect your feet daily and wear shoes that fit properly.
Best Strain for Diabetic Neuropathy
If you suffer from diabetic neuropathy, you know how difficult it can be to manage your symptoms. Fortunately, there are a variety of cannabis strains that can help alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with this condition. Here are the top five Best Strain for Diabetic Neuropathy that can help to reduce the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy:
#1 – Blue Dream: A popular hybrid strain known for its calming and soothing effects, Blue Dream is known to provide relief from pain, inflammation, and anxiety.
#2 – Harlequin: Harlequin is known for its uplifting and energizing effects. It has a high CBD content and reduces inflammation and pain.
#3 – ACDC: ACDC is a high-CBD strain known for its calming and relaxing effects. It has a low THC content and reduces pain, inflammation, and anxiety.
#4 – Granddaddy Purple: Granddaddy Purple is an Indica-dominant strain known for its sedating and relaxing effects. It has a high THC content and reduces pain, inflammation, and anxiety.
#5 – Sour Diesel: Sour Diesel is a Sativa-dominant strain known for its energizing and uplifting effects. It has a high THC content and reduces pain, inflammation, and anxiety.
Conclusion
Diabetic neuropathy is a complex condition that can cause significant pain and discomfort. Fortunately, there are a variety of strains available that can help to reduce these symptoms. Make sure to select the strain that suits your needs and explore its various benefits for relief from diabetes-related pain.