Diabetic Neuropathy - Symptoms, causes and treatment – ​​Alodokter

Diabetic neuropathyik is disturban nerves due to diabetes, which is characterized by tingling, pain, or numbness. Even though it can happen on nerve inparts of body wherealso, diabetic neuropathy more oftenattacks the nerves in the legs.

Nerves throughout the body can be damaged when blood sugar levels are high and last for a long time. Not only in the legs, nerve damage can also occur in the digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels, and heart.

Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathyik

Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy vary, depending on the location of the affected nerve. In many cases, the symptoms develop slowly and gradually, so the sufferer only realizes it when nerve damage has occurred.

At first, people with diabetic neuropathy will feel tingling, cramping, or pain in the legs and feet. Over time the part will become numb, both to pain and temperature.

This numbness condition often causes diabetics to be unaware of the wound. Wounds on the feet that are not treated properly will expand, causing infection and tissue death.

In addition to problems with the feet and legs, people with diabetic neuropathy may also experience symptoms such as:

  • Balance disorders.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Excessive or even reduced sweating.
  • Erectile dysfunction or impotence.
  • Dry vagina.
  • Decreased libido.
  • Constipation or diarrhea, or alternating both.
  • Urinary disturbances, such as bedwetting or difficulty urinating.
  • Blurred vision or double vision.
  • Paralysis on one side of the face (Bell's palsy).
  • Heart beat.

When to go to the doctor

If you have diabetes, you should check with your doctor regularly to keep your blood sugar levels under control. The doctor will also examine the condition of your feet, because often diabetics are not aware that there is a wound on the foot.

You need to see a doctor immediately if you experience the following:

  • Sores on the feet that don't heal or become infected.
  • Changes in sexual arousal
  • Impaired urination (BAK) and defecation (BAB).
  • Pain or burning in the hands or feet.

Please note, the above conditions do not always indicate nerve damage, but can be symptoms of other conditions that require immediate medical attention.

Causes of Diabetic Neuropathyik

Diabetic neuropathy occurs in people with diabetes when high blood sugar levels weaken the walls of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to nerve cells. As a result, there is damage and disruption of nerve function.

This nerve damage can be accelerated or exacerbated by a combination of the following factors:

  • Suffering from an autoimmune disease, which is a disorder in which the immune system turns against the body itself. When the immune system attacks the nerves, inflammation of the nerves can occur.
  • Smoking habit.
  • Consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Diabetic Neuropathy Risk Factors

All people with diabetes are at risk for diabetic neuropathy, but the risk is greater if the following factors are present:

  • Unable to maintain blood sugar levels properly
  • Suffering from diabetes for a long time
  • Have excess weight
  • Suffering from kidney disease

Diabetic Neuropathy Diagnosisik

To see if a person has diabetes or not, blood sugar and HbA1c levels can be checked. Blood sugar levels and HbA1c will also be used by endocrinologists to monitor the effectiveness of treatment in people with diabetes. HbA1c is a blood test to see the stability of blood sugar in the last 2-3 months.

For diabetics or people who are not aware that they have diabetes, the doctor will carry out several examinations, including:

  • Measurement of blood pressure in various positions and several places.
  • Test the body's ability to sweat.
  • Test filament, using a thin fiber to check sensitivity to touch.

After that, the neurologist will perform an electromyography (EMG) examination to see the electrical activity of the nerves in the muscle. In this examination, the neurologist will also assess the speed at which the nerve impulses conduct, as well as the response of the nerves to changes in temperature and vibration.

Diabetic Neuropathy Treatmentik

Treatment of diabetic neuropathy aims to relieve pain and restore normal nerve function in the body. To be more clear, see the explanation below:

Relieve pain

To relieve pain caused by diabetic neuropathy, doctors may prescribe:

  • Antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and duloxetine.
  • Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin, carbamazepine, and pregabalin.
  • Cream contains capsaicin.

Restore normal functionbody

The doctor will also provide treatment to restore body functions, depending on the part of the body that is affected, including:

  • Treatment for movercome digestive problems

    Your doctor may suggest changing your diet, for example by reducing fiber or fatty foods, eating soft and easy-to-digest foods, and eating smaller meals more often. This change in diet can also be accompanied by the administration of drugs by a doctor.

  • Treatment for movercome BAK disturbances

    If a patient with diabetic neuropathy has difficulty urinating, the doctor may prescribe a urinary tract muscle relaxant to facilitate urination. If the BAK disorder is caused by the use of certain drugs, the doctor will advise you to stop using the drug.

  • Treatment for movercome sexual problems

    Doctor can give medicine sildenafil or tadalafil to treat erectile dysfunction in men. For cases of vaginal dryness in women, doctors can provide special vaginal lubricants.

Please note, diabetic neuropathy can not be cured completely. However, the development of diabetic neuropathy can be slowed by keeping blood sugar levels within normal limits. The recommended blood sugar level is 80-130 mg/dL before eating and less than 180 mg/dL 2 hours after eating.

In addition to drugs, diabetics also need to adopt a healthy lifestyle by maintaining an ideal body weight, maintaining normal blood pressure, not smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption.

Complications of Diabetic Neuropathyik

Diabetic neuropathy can lead to a number of serious complications, including:

  • Infection and death of tissue in the leg, so the leg needs to be amputated.
  • Joint damage and deformity.
  • Urinary tract infection.
  • gastroparesis.

PreventionDiabetic Neuropathyik

The main way to prevent diabetic neuropathy is to prevent diabetes, namely by:

  • Eat foods low in calories and fat, and high in fiber, such as fruits and vegetables.
  • Regular light exercise for at least 30 minutes every day, for example jogging, swimming, or cycling.
  • Lose weight if you are overweight.

For people with diabetes, prevention of diabetic neuropathy and its complications can be done by:

  • Regularly control blood sugar levels.
  • Keep feet clean and not dry.
  • Do not walk barefoot, even in the house.
  • Wear shoes that fit and are comfortable.
  • Check your feet every day, and go to the doctor immediately if there are sores on your feet.