Diabetic Neuropathy
Living with diabetes is a big challenge as it is; however, for some people, it becomes a lot more difficult due to complications such as diabetic neuropathy. This complication affects the nerves, causing weakness, numbness, and pain, which can adversely affect the quality of life. At Capital Interventional Pain & Spine Center, under the supervision of Dr. Akshay Garg, we try to help patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy and increase their quality of life. With the help of personalized and innovative treatments, we hope to offer pain management solutions to people living with this condition.
What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
Let’s first try to understand what diabetic neuropathy is. Put simply, it is a type of nerve damage that can manifest as a complication of diabetes. High blood sugar over time can mess up the nerves in your body, particularly in the feet. The nerve damage hinders communication between the nerves and the brain, which can result in pain and tingling. This condition affects up to 50% of people with diabetes, making it a quite common complication. Although there is no cure for this condition, effective intervention at the right time can help prevent pain.
Types of Diabetic Neuropathy
There are a few different types of diabetic neuropathy, and they affect millions of people around the world. There are four main types, and each has a different set of symptoms.
Peripheral Neuropathy
The most common type of diabetic neuropathy is peripheral neuropathy, and it primarily affects the legs and feet first and then progresses to the arms and hands. The symptoms include muscle weakness, numbness, tingling and pain.
Autonomic Neuropathy
The next type is autonomic neuropathy. As the name of the problem suggests, it affects a person’s autonomic nervous system. This kind of autonomic neuropathy impacts bladder control, heart rate, and digestion.
Proximal Neuropathy (Diabetic Amyotrophy):
Next, we have proximal neuropathy, which can cause muscle weakness and pain in particular areas like the hip and thighs. This type of neuropathy first affects one side of the body, and then it can spread to other areas over time.
Focal Neuropathy
Focal neuropathy is one of the worst kinds of diabetic neuropathy. It can occur suddenly and affect the specific nerves in the legs, torso, and head. This condition can cause localized pain, facial weakness, and double vision.
Knowing which type of diabetic neuropathy you are experiencing is important to determine the best treatment approach. At Capital Interventional Pain and Spine Center, our specialist will try to understand your condition and provide a tailor-made treatment approach.
Causes and Risk Factors
To understand and prevent diabetic neuropathy from manifesting in the first place, it is important to know what causes it in the first place. In most cases, it is caused by prolonged high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can mess up the blood vessels that supply nutrients and energy to the nerves in your body. Diabetic neuropathy can be caused by smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol levels.
If you are able to address risk factors, you can reduce the likelihood of developing neuropathy. At our spine and pain center near you, we help patients manage symptoms and address the root cause.
Diagnosing Diabetic Neuropathy
Diagnosing diabetic neuropathy is similar to how a medical professional will diagnose any other condition. This includes evaluating symptoms, physical examination, and the patient’s medical history. The expert will also use different tests to understand the condition properly. They can use nerve conduction studies, which help understand how well signals travel through your nerves. An EMG can be used to evaluate the electrical activity in your muscles. A QST or Quantitative Sensory Testing helps asses sensitivity to vibration and temperature. Imaging is used to rule out any other conditions that might be causing the problem in the first place.
Treatment Options for Diabetic Neuropathy
It is important to understand that there is no full cure for diabetic neuropathy. However, a comprehensive treatment plan can help manage the symptoms. At our pain and spine center, we specialize in such treatments. This includes things like medication, physical therapy, and interventional pain management. Making lifestyle changes is also a great way to reduce the chances of developing diabetic neuropathy.
Why Choose Capital Interventional Pain & Spine Center?
At Capital Interventional Pain & Spine Center, we provide the best care to our patients. Dr. Akshay Garg is a leading spine and pain specialist with much experience in the field. Diabetic neuropathy can hinder the quality of life of a person, and that is why it is important to treat it in the early stages. It is important to prevent this condition from developing in the first place. But if you start to experience early symptoms, you must contact your specialist immediately.
