HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SYMPTOMS CAUSES DIET & TREATMENT

Dr.Armughan Riaz
M.B.B.S, Dip Card
Consultant Cardiologist

 

Diabetic Neuropathy – Diabetic Nerve Disease

Diabetic Neuropathy – Diabetic Nerve Disease, There are different types of nerve damage. The most common form of neuropathy in diabetics is sensory neuropathy in which the sensory nerves get damaged and there is loss of sensation.

Diabetic Neuropathy – Diabetic Nerve Disease

 High blood glucose level for an extended period can lead to many complications. One such problem is neuropathy or nerve damage. This is contracted by people who have had increased levels of blood sugar over a period of ten years. People over 40 and especially those who are smokers or heavy drinkers have the risk of getting nerve damage. Nerve damage has also been observed more in taller people as they have longer nerve fibres. Since the cause of neuropathy is high blood sugar level, diabetics belonging to both types are exceptionally vulnerable to this condition, particularly if they have poor glucose control.

All patients of diabetes need to be extra careful

 if they want to avoid nerve damage. Unfortunately, there are no symptoms of neuropathy. This makes it crucial for people to check their blood sugar levels regularly so that the onset of neuropathy can be detected early. Diabetics need to be assured that the effects of neuropathy can be reduced or completely cured by maintaining normal glucose levels.

In order to diagnose neuropathy, reactions of different nerves to different sensations are tested. In the vibration test, certain nerves are tested for abnormalities by their responses to the vibrations caused by the tuning fork. Patients with nerve damage lose sensation to hotness and coldness in the affected area. Hence, another way of diagnosing neuropathy in the smaller nerves is by temperature. The third way to diagnose nerve damage is by light touch testing. In this, the larger nerves are tested on their response to a filament touching their skin. A normal person will feel the filament pressing in their skin with 1 g of force. However, if 75 g of force or 10 g of force to the foot area does not evoke any sensation of touch, this means that there has been damage to the nerves in that area.

There are different types of nerve damage. The most common form of neuropathy in diabetics is sensory neuropathy in which the sensory nerves get damaged and there is loss of sensation. The parts of body most affected by them are feet and legs. This is potentially harmful for diabetics because the patient may hurt himself and not even realise it and the injury can become infected very quickly due to diabetes.

Other forms of neuropathy include damage to the motor nerves that carry instructions to the muscles. However, the most severe form is automatic nerve damage in which our involuntary movements, like that of the heart and bladder muscles, are affected.

Neuropathy can be reversible if it is diagnosed and treated on time. Therefore, diabetics are advised to be on alert and keep checking for any nerve damage that they might be suffering from.

 



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