#diabetic neuropathy symptoms

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Diabetic Neuropathy

Neuropathy is a serious problem, affecting more than half of all diabetics. While some diabetics may only experience mild symptoms, for others, it can be downright debilitating. The good news is that will a proper diet-exercise-stress release regimen you can slow, arrest and even reverse the problems—including your diabetes itself.

Read more: https://www.freedomfromdiabetes.org/blog/post/diabetic-neuropathy/2630

[healthovise]

Diabetic Neuropathy: Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors and Prevention

Diabetes can do the worst things to your body. One such is neuropathy where your nerves get damaged and cause pain.

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How Diabetes Affects Your Feet (Diabetic Foot) - Identifying Diabetic Foot Symptoms - Healthy Feet!

In this video, we delve into what diabetic foot problems really look like and provide valuable insights on how diabetes can affect your feet. Learn about common foot issues that can arise from diabetes and discover essential tips for maintaining healthy feet. If you or someone you know is living with diabetes, this video is a must-watch to ensure proper foot care and overall well-being.

Share This Video: https://youtu.be/t2bze6P7vtY

diabeticfootproblems #diabeticfootissues #diabeticneuropathy

[andreiamat]

How Diabetes Affects Your Feet (Diabetic Foot) - Identifying Diabetic Foot Symptoms - Healthy Feet!

In this video, we delve into what diabetic foot problems really look like and provide valuable insights on how diabetes can affect your feet. Learn about common foot issues that can arise from diabetes and discover essential tips for maintaining healthy feet. If you or someone you know is living with diabetes, this video is a must-watch to ensure proper foot care and overall well-being.

[bemestaresucesso]

How Diabetes Affects Your Feet (Diabetic Foot) - Identifying Diabetic Foot Symptoms - Healthy Feet!

In this video, we delve into what diabetic foot problems really look like and provide valuable insights on how diabetes can affect your feet. Learn about common foot issues that can arise from diabetes and discover essential tips for maintaining healthy feet. If you or someone you know is living with diabetes, this video is a must-watch to ensure proper foot care and overall well-being.

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[erodediabetesfoundation]

Diabetes neuropathy - treatment, symptoms, and prevention

[wellhealthhub]

Diabetes Sore Legs: A Profound and Comprehensive Exploration of the Multifaceted Causes, Elusive Symptoms, and Optimal Management Strategies

Welcome to our erudite and all-encompassing guide, meticulously crafted to delve into the intricacies of the intricate interplay between the ubiquitous malady of diabetes and its enigmatic association with the distressing condition of sore legs. As an omnipresent scourge, diabetes ensnares a staggering multitude across the expansive globe, and its repercussions traverse far beyond the realm of…

[technicallyhappyarcade]

Neuropathy: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Skin Condition

Neuropathy: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Skin Condition offers comprehensive insights into the complex world of neuropathy, focusing on its impact on the skin. This informative guide delves into the causes, symptoms, and treatments of this nerve-related disorder, shedding light on its effects and the challenges it poses. Written in an accessible and engaging manner, the book empowers readers with knowledge to better comprehend neuropathy's manifestations on the skin and its broader implications on overall health. Whether you're seeking clarity about neuropathy or looking for effective treatment approaches, this indispensable resource serves as a valuable companion, fostering a deeper understanding and facilitating improved care for this condition.

[pebblegalaxy]

Comprehensive Overview of Diabetes Neuropathy: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Diabetes neuropathy is a serious complication that affects many people with diabetes. It is a type of nerve damage that is caused by high levels of sugar in the blood. Over time, this can lead to nerve damage, which can cause numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness in the hands, arms, feet, and legs. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of diabetes neuropathy, including its causes,…

[sagescented]

Getting stabbed is not pleasant. Getting continuously stabbed by a Glucose Monitor is even worse. I'm finding the entire experience of applying and wearing this thing both unpleasant and discomforting.

For bonus points, my first reading came in at a whopping 40 mg/dl. And absolutely nothing is quicker to remind you that you used to be Hypoglycemic in High School and that your body's apparently somehow developed superhuman coping mechanisms as an adult, than your initial reading being a 40. Lemme tell ya.

For those concerned: I do not actually have most of the symptoms of Diabetes other than the lethargy / fatigue (started after Covid R2), blurry vision (recent development), neuropathy (got better after we took me off Lyrica last year and doesn't occur much anymore), dry / itchy skin (lifelong chronic issue for me which's made worse by multiple medications I'm on), and craving for sweets (recently increased after I started drinking Soda again). I'm missing the vast majority of other symptoms. My GP's just being thorough because I'm so tired all the time, and it's not improving- and we're coming up on 3 months shy of the year mark now. Diabetes is an easy one for us to test for out the gate. If my blood sugar levels are too high more often than not, then it's a yes. If they're not, then the answer's no.

[kingcunny]

Tbh i always tought Vis had some type of Diabetes type 2, but because Westeros is a medieval society thet didn't had our confiable metformin and insuline 😔👌

i think that is what hes supposed to have! diabetes is kinda the stereotypical ‘fat king disease’ and it would not be diagnosable or treatable in that time.

also supported by the fact that diabetes can cause heart and lung issues, viserys complaining if chest pain and shortness of breath.

also the fact that his illness was adapted into leprosy for the show. i know diabetes=leprosy SOUNDS crazy but hear me out. over time high blood sugar can damage nerves and blood vessels, leading to neuropathy (lack of feeling) and poor bloodflow in the extremities. people with diabetes also often have trouble healing wounds. these things combined leads to the phenomenon of the ‘diabetic foot’. diabetics getting injuries on their feet that they cant feel, that wont heal on their own. if untreated the wounds can fester and ulcer. this is why you sometimes hear about diabetics getting their feet or legs amputated.

now what does leprosy do to the body? the bacteria attacks the nervous system (+respiratory system, skin and eyes). leading to neuropathy. it can cause lesions and rashes on the skin, that due to nerve damage may not be noticed by the patient (as well as any just, regular injuries) left untreated… again. opportunistic infections, wounds festering and necrotizing… leprosy doesnt cause your limbs to rot off but it can prime them for the infections that will.

until diabetes gets BAD its not a very visual disease, but once it does well… the physical symptoms look very similar to leprosys

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive

By Rhys Richmond

Our nerves help us sense, react to, and change our surroundings. Simply put, our nerves are our connection to the world. This connection is disrupted, however, when peripheral neuropathy strikes.

The peripheral nervous system starts when nerves leave the spinal cord and ends when the nerves reach our tissues. Peripheral neuropathy, defined as a disorder of the peripheral nervous system, interferes with this connection. This can manifest as tingling or numbness (often in the hands and feet) that spreads over time. The feeling can be akin to how a limb feels when it “goes to sleep.”

Research shows that around 2.4% of the population suffers from peripheral neuropathy, with that number rising to about 8% in older patients. Most recently, clinicians have also identified this condition in some patients who have had COVID-19. One study found that as many as 56% of COVID-19 patients reported symptoms of peripheral neuropathy post-infection.

What causes peripheral neuropathy? Neuropathies can have a slew of causes. Trauma, inflammation, diabetes, infections (viral or bacterial), certain medications, inherited conditions, poor nutrition, and hormone imbalances can be responsible. All of these factors can lead to toxicity and inflammation of the nerve and its coating, which in turn contributes to the physical breakdown of the cell and its ability to function. But no clear cause is found in nearly a quarter of the patients with this type of neuropathy.

Clinicians use further sub-classifications to describe the extent of the disease and how it manifests. For example, mono-neuropathies involve just one nerve, while polyneuropathies include many nerves.

Additionally, it’s crucial to know exactly what is going wrong with the nerve:

If the neuropathy is “demyelinating,” this means that the nerve has lost part of its myelin coating, a physiological “accelerator” of nerve signals that helps nerves talk very quickly to one another and to muscles. Damage to the cell body of the nerve can occur if it is compressed or cut off from metabolic necessities (including glucose, the molecule that our cells use for energy) due to impingement from, for example, an abnormal growth or tumor. Axonal damage, which affects the long stem of the nerve cell that lets it “talk” to other nerves, can happen due to similar metabolic toxicities or trauma. This is what scientists currently think happens, in large part, in other non-COVID viral models of peripheral neuropathy, such as HIV, hepatitis C, etc. Why would COVID-19 cause peripheral neuropathy? Lindsay McAlpine, MD, a neurologist and founder of the Yale NeuroCOVID Clinic, has conducted research on what is now known clinically as peripheral neuropathy after COVID-19. She notes that there are two main categories of neuropathy following COVID-19 infection. One is the “acute illness mediated type,” in which patients find themselves with sudden, severe neuropathy, generally around the same time as their active illness. The second is small fiber neuropathy, which results from damage to the thinnest, unmyelinated nerves in our body and often begins with burning pain in the feet. It typically arises somewhat later—around two to 12 weeks post-illness.

Peripheral neuropathy in COVID-19 patients has been reported in both axonal and demyelinating forms, according to the medical literature. Researchers suspect that COVID-19 associated neuropathy could be driven by several causes. One might be immune system dysfunction, in which the body attacks itself instead of, or in addition to, attacking viral particles. Or COVID-19 may have hemodynamic effects that interfere with how blood flows through the body’s blood vessels, damaging the nerves and leading to “ischemia” due to restricted blood/nutrient flow, known as critical illness neuropathy.

How do clinicians diagnose peripheral neuropathy? To diagnose peripheral neuropathy, your clinician will ask you questions about your symptoms—when did they start, for example, and how would you describe the pain? The questions that Dr. McAlpine asks her patients include: “Is the pain intermittent? Is it localized to a certain part of your body? Is it patchy? Does it radiate? Are you numb, itchy, and/or hypersensitive?” Hallmarks of peripheral neuropathies include not only pain, but also weakness and numbness. Your answers to these questions can help clinicians pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.

As part of the diagnostic work-up, you’ll typically see a neurologist, who will perform a complete neurological exam with deep reflex checks—leveraging the same reflex hammer your primary care doctor may use on your knee at your yearly checkups. This helps clinicians tell if some of the nerve circuits that are not under your conscious control are functioning correctly. If something is abnormal here, it may point to another cause of your symptoms that is not related to small nerve fibers. For example, is it possible that Long COVID could be working in tandem with another cause to trigger symptoms?

The next step involves lab tests to rule out common causes of neuropathy, as well as conditions, such as vitamin B12 deficiency or an autoimmune disease, that could either lead to neuropathy on their own or co-occur with COVID-19 and worsen neuropathy symptoms.

Next, your clinician will likely order an electromyography test (EMG)/nerve conduction study, which can help determine whether your symptoms appear to be related to large nerve fiber demyelination, axonal damage, or radiculopathy (due to a damaged or pinched nerve, most often in the spine). This test measures the electrical output of nerves when stimulated and will be negative (“normal”) if your peripheral neuropathy is due to small fiber nerve damage.

If the diagnosis is still elusive, clinicians typically order additional tests, including punch biopsies (the removal of small pieces of skin that are sent to a specialized lab to be assessed for small fiber density) and/or a special bloodwork panel that can look for uncommon causes of sensory neuropathy, which results in a loss of sensation in various parts of the body.

How is peripheral neuropathy treated? Clinicians often rely on a mixed-methods approach, including physical therapy and rehabilitation. Dr. McAlpine stresses the importance of “optimizing the environment for nerve healing”—that is, controlling other diseases such as diabetes that could be worsening symptoms, while also treating symptoms that can interfere with a patient’s function and sleep with medications, such as gabapentin (Neurontin®), pregabalin (Lyrica®), and duloxetine (Cymbalta®), that treat nerve pain.

B vitamins play a crucial role in neural function, so supplementation of vitamins B1 and B12 might help relieve symptoms and protect nerves from future damage if a deficiency is the underlying cause. Oversupplementation with B6 is known to cause nerve damage and neuropathy

If evidence of autoimmune damage of the large or small nerve fibers is discovered during testing, clinicians can start IVIg—intravenous immunoglobulin—to help calm inflammation of the nerves. However, treatment with this medication can be time-consuming and costly. Insurance may not cover the drug, depending on the coverage plan and stated indication.

Because patients must sometimes wait up to several months to see a neurologist, Dr. McAlpine notes that primary care physicians may be able to prescribe gabapentin or one of the other medications listed above for at-home use to help treat symptoms while patients wait for their neurology appointment.

If you’d like more details on Long COVID-related small fiber neuropathy, Dr. McAlpine (Twitter/X: twitter.com/lindsaymca) has recently published a series of small case studies on this topic.

Rhys Richmond is an MD candidate at Yale School of Medicine.

Takeaway from Lisa Sanders, MD: When I was a child, my sisters and I often debated which sense we could live without most easily. As I recall, it usually came down to either the sense of smell or touch. In our lives at that age, bad odors and the bangs and bruises of a normal active childhood were the most vivid and unpleasant of our sensory experiences. Of course as an adult, and a physician, I think differently. I wouldn’t give up any of them.

But for those with peripheral neuropathy, this essential perception can become burdensome. The constant burning or numbness or pins-and-needle sensations some of the patients we see suffer through can often be torturous. Moreover, peripheral neuropathy can be dangerous. It is the tiny nerves that populate our skin that alert us to injury or infection. They tell us about the world around us. And when those nerves give us bad information, the world becomes a much more hazardous place. And a much harder place to live in.

At this point, it’s essential to try to find the underlying cause of the neuropathy and treat that. In the US and Europe, long-standing diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. When diabetes is well controlled, the risk of developing this complication can be reduced. In Long COVID, we still don’t fully understand the cause. All we can do is help with the pain. The medications mentioned above can relieve some of the pain. Capsaisin, the component that gives hot peppers their heat, can sometimes help as well, as can ice. Dr. McAlpine’s work using intravenous gamma globulin to treat neuropathies caused by an immune system gone bad is intriguing. And it may suggest a possible long-term treatment. At this point, it’s only an interesting idea; we can’t know for certain until more research is done.

Studies mentioned:

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1122393/ pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9538868/ pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8853404/

[wellness-world00]

Diabetes and Nerve Damage: The Numbness and Tingling ⚡

Understanding Diabetic Neuropathy

Ever experienced a pins-and-needles sensation or numbness in your hands or feet? If you have diabetes, you might be familiar with this uncomfortable feeling. This condition, known as diabetic neuropathy, occurs when high blood sugar levels damage nerves over time.

How Does Diabetes Affect Your Nerves?

When your blood sugar is consistently high, it can damage the small blood vessels that supply your nerves with the oxygen and nutrients they need to function properly. This damage can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:

Numbness and tingling: This is often the first sign of diabetic neuropathy. You may feel like you're wearing gloves or socks that are too tight.Pain: Nerve damage can cause sharp, shooting pains or a burning sensation.Weakness: Muscles may become weak, making it difficult to perform daily tasks.Loss of balance and coordination: Damage to the nerves in your feet can increase your risk of falls.Digestive problems: Neuropathy can affect the nerves in your digestive system, leading to constipation, diarrhea, or difficulty swallowing.

Types of Diabetic Neuropathy

There are different types of diabetic neuropathy, each affecting different parts of the body:   Peripheral neuropathy: This is the most common type and affects the nerves in your hands and feet.Autonomic neuropathy: This affects the nerves that control your heart, blood pressure, and digestive system.Proximal neuropathy: This affects the nerves in your thighs, hips, and buttocks.Managing Diabetic NeuropathyWhile there is no cure for diabetic neuropathy, there are several ways to manage the symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease:

Strict blood sugar control: Keeping your blood sugar levels within a healthy range is the most important thing you can do to protect your nerves.Pain management: Over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription medications, and physical therapy can help relieve pain.Foot care: Regular foot exams and proper foot care can help prevent ulcers and infections.Lifestyle changes: Quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise regularly.Living with Diabetic NeuropathyLiving with diabetic neuropathy can be challenging, but with the right management, you can still enjoy a good quality of life. It's important to work closely with your healthcare team to develop a personalized treatment plan.

Remember, you're not alone. There are many people living with diabetic neuropathy who have found ways to manage their condition and live fulfilling lives.

[dissociacrip]

it's dysautonomia awareness month 💙 and while what i have (POTS & NCS) are common conditions, here are some things i feel don't get talked about enough

(NCS = neurocardiogenic syncope; it's sometimes also called vasovagal syncope, vasodepressor syncope, reflex syncope, and neurally-mediated syncope)

disclaimer - i'm a layperson, if any of this information is actually incorrect please let me know ASAP!

1. coathanger pain

coathanger pain is a symptom associated with orthostatic intolerance in general, not just POTS, but it also has yet to be extensively studied/fully understood

it's called "coathanger pain" as it occurs in a "coathanger" shape affecting the base of the neck and spreading into the upper back and shoulders, in my experience it's a searing pain that's simultaneously icy (like the icy-hot sensation you might get when sticking your hand in front of a hot tub jet) and becomes excruciatingly painful the longer i'm upright, it's also been described as a charley-horse sensation

the theory behind it is lack of sufficient oxygenated blood flow to the muscles in the upper body; without enough oxygen, muscle cells use fermentation to produce ATP, which triggers the production and buildup of lactic acid, causing progressively worsening pain

this likely happens because the autonomic mechanisms implicated in POTS and other forms of Ol fail to adequately counteract blood pooling in the legs and feet against the pull of gravity, resulting in decreased blood flow to the upper body

2. POTS is a heterogenous syndrome

what defines POTS is an HR increase of at least 30bpm in response to postural change (getting into a standing position), typically in the absence of orthostatic hypotension, which is something that can happen for a variety of reasons

idiopathic/primary (where the case isn't known) POTS is not uncommon, but not all cases of POTS are idiopathic and are instead secondary to another condition, such as those that involve damage to the peripheral nerves (e.g. diabetes and diabetic neuropathy)

some people recover from POTS if the underlying issue can be resolved, but in many cases it either can't or the underlying issue is unknown

there are "types" of POTS (hyperandrenegic, hypovolemic, neuropathic) but these aren't distinct subtypes so much as mechanisms that can be involved, which means some people can experience multiple

this also means that POTS has a wide range of presentations: some people may recover, some people will have mostly steady impairment with more of a relapse-remission pattern based on various factors, and some people become sicker over time if the underlying cause is progressive

3. how "pre-syncope" works

syncope = fainting

pre-syncope = symptoms that lead up to fainting/the "podrome" of syncope (e.g. lightheadedness, sweating, stomach discomfort, etc.)

"pre-syncope" is generally used to refer to the cluster of symptoms one experiences as a result of POTS regardless of whether they actually lead fainting, not everyone with POTS is considered a faint risk

personally i am a faint risk but i usually only faint due to exacerbating circumstances (hypotension triggered by heat or lack of food, etc.) & not necessarily POTS by itself (i usually have NCS in response to getting blood drawn)

i can usually tell i'm actually going to faint based on tells like profuse sweating and the gross feeling in my stomach, but for example i can be on my feet for hours with progressively worsening ataxia that never lead to me blacking out (assuming that's due to my POTS and not something else Imao, the jury is still out on that one)

other people experience a similar situation where their symptoms are still considered "pre-syncope" even if they never lead up to actual syncope

4. convulsive syncope

convulsive syncope is a "type" of faint episode that can externally resemble a seizure due to jerking body movements, but isn't actually a seizure (it's also different from PNES)

unlike seizures, convulsive syncope is usually very short-lived (usually less than 1 minute) and has rapid recovery once adequate blood flow to the brain restored, however - while i'm no expert - i think it's fair to say if you think someone is having a seizure it's better to assume that's the case & respond appropriately

faint episodes (convulsive or no) can still be a pretty serious thing due to the risk of bodily injury, especially TBI

sources/further reading

about POTS (dysautonomia international)

coathanger pain (the dysautonomia project)

convulsive syncope (medlink)