Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage due to uncontrolled high blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes. It can affect various body parts, including your feet, legs, hands, arms, and organs, such as the heart and bladder. You may experience pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, and loss of balance or coordination. Severe cases of diabetic neuropathy Baltimore can lead to foot ulcers, infections, and even amputation. Your doctor may recommend several treatments for managing blood sugar levels, such as taking pain-relieving medications and addressing any underlying conditions that may contribute to nerve damage. Sometimes you may need physical therapy, and other rehabilitation techniques can also be helpful. The following are different types of diabetic neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is a type of diabetic neuropathy that affects your peripheral nerves. This type of neuropathy can lead to tingling, numbness, burning pain, and muscle weakness in your hands, feet, and sometimes other body parts. The severity and progression of peripheral neuropathy can vary greatly from person to person, and it can significantly impact your quality of life.
Autonomic neuropathy
Autonomic neuropathy affects your autonomic nervous system, which controls your body’s unconscious functions, such as blood pressure regulation, digestion, and sweating. This type of neuropathy can result in difficulty swallowing, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, and an increased risk of falls due to orthostatic hypotension. In severe cases, it can also affect your heart and lead to life-threatening complications such as irregular heartbeats or cardiac arrest. Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is key to reducing the risk of developing autonomic neuropathy and other diabetic complications.
Focal neuropathy
Focal neuropathy attacks a specific nerve or group of nerves, causing sudden, severe pain and weakness. It can affect various nerves, including the cranial nerves that control eye movements, the nerves that control movement in the limbs, and the nerves that control sensation. Focal neuropathy can occur in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and it can happen at any stage of the disease. The exact cause of focal neuropathy is still unknown, but high blood sugar levels and other factors such as viral infections and certain medications may play a role.
Mono-neuropathy
Mononeuropathy affects a single nerve, typically in your limb or trunk, causing pain, weakness, and sensory loss in the affected area. The most prevalent form of mononeuropathy is carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects the median nerve in the wrist. Other examples of mononeuropathy include ulnar nerve neuropathy at the elbow and femoral neuropathy in the thigh.
Mononeuropathy can be due to injury, infection, compression, or entrapment of the affected nerve. In people with diabetes, mononeuropathy can also result from uncontrolled blood sugar levels that lead to nerve damage. Treatment for mononeuropathy depends on the underlying cause and may include physical therapy, splinting, pain-relieving medications, and in some cases, surgery to relieve pressure on the affected nerve. Early diagnosis and effective management of the underlying condition are important in preventing the development of mononeuropathy and reducing the risk of long-term complications.
Call the CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center office or schedule an appointment online for comprehensive care.