Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN)
Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that affects nearly 35 million people every year. In short, 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 the most common complication associated with diabetes, affecting an estimated 50% of diabetes patients. The condition occurs when excess blood sugar damages nerves throughout the body, resulting in chronic pain.
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What causes diabetic neuropathy?
The exact cause of diabetic neuropathy is not well understood. Experts believe that sustained high blood sugar levels can damage nerves, causing pain.
High blood pressure has also 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.
The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy often develop slowly, and sometimes they are not noticed until significant nerve damage has 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 and affects the more “distant” body parts, including the feet, legs, hands, and arms. Symptoms most commonly present at night and can include:
- Numbness
- Tingling or burning
- Extreme sensitivity to touch
- Insensitivity to temperatures
- Muscle weakness
Autonomic neuropathy
This is the second most common form of diabetic neuropathy and usually affect 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, diabetic peripheral neuropathy may still develop. If this occurs, Twin Cities Pain Clinic offers a variety of advanced and effective pain management treatments that can help manage diabetic neuropathy pain.
Spinal cord stimulation for diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Diabetes pain has historically been treated with pain medications. But now there is a drug-free, FDA-approved alternative that can provide continuous, long-term relief from diabetic peripheral neuropathy. It is called spinal cord stimulation, and it is one of the most advanced and successful pain management therapies available.
Several leading medical device companies, including Abbott, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and Nevro have released FDA-approved spinal cord stimulation (SCS) systems designed specifically to treat diabetes pain. As a center for excellence in spinal cord stimulation therapy, Twin Cities Pain Clinic is proud to offer these breakthrough treatments to provide effective, long-term relief to patients suffering from DPN pain.
Diabetic neuropathy doctors near you
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.
Schedule an appointment with Twin Cities Pain Clinic to learn how we can treat your diabetic neuropathy pain.
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