[Local Medical]From numbness and pain to unconsciousness, sugar lovers beware of neuropathy

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Written by ◆Chen Qiulei and compiled by ◆Liang Yingxiu

The main culprit of diabetic neuropathy is caused by the well-known diabetes.

In fact, patients with diabetic neuropathy can improve their condition by controlling their blood sugar properly and changing their eating habits and lifestyle. In particular, they must strictly control their blood sugar.

(Kuala Lumpur News) The occurrence of diabetic neuropathy is due to the destruction of nerves by high concentrations of blood sugar, which then evolves into functional degeneration. In fact, almost all complications of diabetes are caused by diabetic neuropathy.

To put it simply, if a diabetic patient’s blood sugar rises out of control, high blood sugar will destroy the myelin sheath and hinder cell growth. Then the conduction between neurons will be delayed or completely stopped. .

Affects digestive system organs

Dr. Tan Wee Yong, consultant at the Department of Neurology, pointed out that when nerves are damaged, patients’ limbs, such as legs and toes, are particularly vulnerable to injuries. At the same time, it can also cause problems in the digestive system, cardiovascular system, urinary system, sexual function and vision. problem.

“The nervous system starts from the central nervous system, extends to the spinal cord, and spreads throughout the body. The nerve endings are the fingers and toes at the end. If you are a man, it also includes the genitals. When diabetic neuropathy occurs, the most obvious symptoms often occur in the hands. And the feet, it can be said that most cases are in the feet. As mentioned above, the patient’s nerves for touch, temperature and pain are damaged, so the ‘feeling’ will become slow, or even in the most serious case, complete loss of consciousness. “

He said that diabetic neuropathy is mainly divided into two types, namely diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetic autonomic neuropathy.

It is common to hear that some patients experience numbness and tingling in their hands and feet. This is the most common form of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, also known as distal symmetric peripheral neuropathy.

This type of disease first affects the feet and legs, then the hands and arms; other parts of the body include the face and eyes. Several symptoms may occur in these involved areas, such as numbness, reduced ability to feel pain, severe pain, etc.

“Another type is diabetic autonomic neuropathy. The body’s autonomic nervous system mainly controls the heart, eyes, bladder, digestive system and sexual organs. These areas will be affected by autonomic neuropathy. Among them, the most obvious condition is digestion. System, patients often experience abdominal distension, nausea, and vomiting due to indigestion; some may also experience loss of appetite, constipation, or diarrhea.”

More than half of patients have neuropathy

He reminded that it is noteworthy that in addition to affecting the digestive system and other problems, diabetic neuropathy can also cause sexual dysfunction, especially male impotence.

The probability of diabetic neuropathy is generally high. Which diabetics are included in the high-risk group? He said that generally, people who are older, suffer from three high blood pressure problems, drink too much, eat unhealthy food, and do not consume enough and correct nutrients, such as folic acid, vitamin B, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, are very likely to suffer from this disease. high.

“It is worth noting that although smoking is not the main cause of diabetic neuropathy, long-term smoking causes capillary obstruction, and nerves require blood supply, so it can also indirectly damage the nerves, causing paralysis of the hands and feet.”

Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy begin with numbness, then escalate to pain, and in the worst case, complete loss of sensation. He explained that several kinds of pain in the human body are sometimes misunderstood as peripheral neuropathy “at work”, such as joint pain and muscle pain. In fact, the pain felt due to diabetic neuropathy is different, because the pain caused by nerve damage is most severe at night.

“When it comes to the specific feeling of pain, those who have not experienced it personally cannot explain it.

But it can be classified as burning pain,

Knife-like pain, electrical sensations,

Allodynia, tingling, and prickling.

The above-mentioned kinds of pain not only bring physical torture to patients,

The pain often makes them unable to sleep, seriously affecting their daily routine.

Eventually the pain became unbearable and I went to seek medical advice. “

“Another situation is that the patient loses consciousness due to nerve damage. Some patients have “no feeling” in their feet and are not aware of the injury. Without treatment, the original minor injury slowly develops into Ulcers or gangrene, if the infection is disseminated, can lead to cell tissue death and cannot be treated, eventually forcing amputation of the toes, feet or lower legs.”

Anti-epileptic drugs relieve pain

If the patient already has the above symptoms, a diagnosis must be made through a nerve conduction study to find out the cause and then decide on a treatment plan.

What is a nerve conduction test? Its operation method mainly records the potential changes of nerves or muscles to determine the location and nature of the lesion, and then determine the direction of treatment. This test requires the stimulation of nerves with electric current, and then recording through electrodes attached to the skin. Therefore, it will feel like an electric shock, but will not cause harm to the human body.

“When a diabetic patient’s pain becomes more severe, seeking medical treatment is the only way. During the consultation process, we will first conduct a series of inquiries and then conduct a nerve conduction test.”

By using this nerve conduction testing instrument, the doctor attaches the electrode pads to the relevant parts, and can find out the amplitude, latency (latency, the conduction speed time from the front end to the back end of the nerve) and speed ( velocity) reaches the normal standard value. These three standard values ​​are differentiated according to age. Each nerve also has its own specific standard value.

This examination does not take long. It takes about 20 minutes to examine only the hands or feet, and about 40 minutes to examine both hands and feet.

He said that three to four hundred people can be tested every year using nerve conduction testing, nearly half of whom are diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy.

After testing, if diabetic neuropathy is diagnosed, patients can take some anti-epileptic drugs to relieve pain, such as pregabalin or gabapentin.

Pregabalin works by reducing pain signals emanating from damaged nerves and is used for peripheral and central neuropathic pain, such as diabetic neuropathy and post-herpetic neuralgia, and as an adjunctive treatment for focal epileptic seizures and a wide range of Sexual anxiety disorder.

Likewise, gabapentin can reduce pain and is generally used as an adjunct or monotherapy to treat focal epileptic seizures, treat neuropathic pain, prevent migraines, and treat menopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes.

“Taking the above two drugs has some side effects. Patients may experience drowsiness, dizziness, or swelling of their hands and feet.”

Life intervention helps reduce pain Inadequate care worsens

Good blood sugar control and a good lifestyle can help improve the condition of diabetic neuropathy.

Patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy will experience pain in the affected area almost every night, causing them to suffer from insomnia. If the daily care work is not handled carefully, the condition may be aggravated.

Will this “nightmare” follow the patient for a lifetime? Not necessarily.

With proper daily care, you may be able to escape the pain. Although it is not a complete recovery, it can at least greatly reduce the pain and allow you to return to your normal life.

Get more vitamins B and E

Therefore, if you want to live a comfortable and comfortable life, patients must do several very important things. One is to effectively control blood sugar with a correct and healthy diet and take in more vitamins B and E. In addition, patients must pay special attention to taking care of their hands and feet. They can wear socks when sleeping at night. When going out, they must wear shoes that cover the entire foot to avoid injury.

Is it impossible to get rid of diabetic neuropathy if you have diabetes? Not entirely. Diabetics must pay special attention to blood sugar control in order to prevent or slow down the disease.

Check blood sugar regularly every 3 months

In addition to the repeated emphasis on blood sugar control, diabetics should also avoid smoking and drinking. At the same time, you must take in enough nutrients, and of course don’t forget to check your blood sugar regularly every three months to keep a check on your blood sugar.

In fact, in the final analysis, the real source of diabetic neuropathy is diabetes. Therefore, you should take good care of your health and avoid getting diabetes. This is the best way to stay away from diabetic neuropathy.

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