Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN)
Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that affects nearly 35 million people every year. Diabetes occurs when your body can’t produce enough insulin, which is the chemical that allows your cells to turn blood sugar into energy. As a result, too much sugar remains in your blood, which can cause serious health issues.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is caused by damaged nerves and can produce sharp or burning pain, numbness, or tingling. Diabetes pain is most commonly felt in the extremities, like the feet, hands, arms, and legs.
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What causes diabetic neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy is a complex condition and the causes are not fully understood. Experts believe that sustained high blood sugar levels can damage nerves, causing pain.
High blood pressure has been shown to weaken the walls of capillaries. This can interfere with the capillaries’ ability to supply nerves with adequate amounts of oxygen and nutrients, resulting in nerve damage.
Diabetes pain often develops slowly, and sometimes symptoms are not noticed until significant nerve damage has already occurred.
What are symptoms of diabetic neuropathy?
There are four main types of diabetic neuropathy, each with different symptoms affecting different parts of the body.
Peripheral neuropathy
This is the most common form of diabetic neuropathy. Symptoms most commonly present at night and can include:
- Numbness
- Tingling or burning
- Extreme sensitivity to touch
- Insensitivity to temperatures
- Muscle weakness
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy symptoms are most commonly felt in the feet, but can also impact the hands, legs, and arms.
Autonomic neuropathy
This form of diabetic neuropathy usually affects the digestive system, blood vessels, urinary system, and sex organs. Symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Nausea or vomiting
- Bloating
- Increased heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Reduced hunger
- Trouble emptying bladder
- Increased trips to the bathroom
Proximal neuropathy
This is a rarer form of diabetic neuropathy and is most commonly seen in men over 50 and adults with type 2 diabetes. It usually only affects one side of the body, though it can in rare cases spread to both sides. Symptoms may include:
- Sudden, sometimes severe, pain in the hips, buttocks, or thighs
- Weakness in the hips, buttocks, thighs, and leg muscles
- Muscle atrophy in the lower body
Mononeuropathy
This form of diabetic neuropathy occurs when there is damage to one specific nerve and can cause symptoms such as:
- Double vision
- Pain behind one eye
- Paralysis on one side of the face (known as Bell’s palsy)
- Pain in isolated areas, like the back, stomach, chest, or lower legs
- Pain in the chest or abdominal area
How is diabetic neuropathy treated?
There is no cure for diabetic neuropathy, but there are things you can do to help prevent it. First and foremost is maintaining healthy blood sugar levels by eating a nutritious diet and exercising. If you smoke, quitting can help reduce the likelihood of developing DPN.
However, even if you make all the right lifestyle choices, diabetes pain may still develop. If this occurs, Twin Cities Pain Clinic offers a variety of advanced and effective pain management treatments that can help manage diabetes pain.
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Treating diabetic neuropathy with spinal cord stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an FDA-approved, drug-free therapy that can provide continuous, long-term relief from diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain. Diabetes pain has historically been treated with medications. But spinal cord stimulation offers a highly effective, minimally invasive alternative that can provide exceptional results without the risks associated with pain medications.
With just this one procedure, you can enjoy years of drug-free pain relief. Call now and learn how SCS can give you back the life you deserve.
Get relief from chronic diabetes pain
The pain management experts at Twin Cities Pain Clinic specialize in the most advanced therapies to treat diabetic neuropathy pain. With numerous clinics and outpatient surgery centers across the metro area, relief from diabetes pain is never far away.
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Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
Spinal cord stimulation is a minimally invasive, opioid-free pain management therapy that uses small amounts of electricity to block pain signals.
Additional treatments
Schedule an appointment with Twin Cities Pain Clinic to learn how we can treat your diabetic neuropathy pain.
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