Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathies, or nerve damage, can be a serious health issue for diabetics and in fact affects up to 50 percent of all diabetics, because it can involve nerves of any organ of the body.
Per the Mayo Clinic:
“Diabetic neuropathy has no known cure. Treatment for diabetic neuropathy focuses on:
- Slowing progression of the disease
- Relieving pain
- Managing complications
- Restoring function
Consistently keeping blood sugar within a narrow target range can help delay the progression of peripheral neuropathy and may even cause an improvement in symptoms you already have. In some people, intense glucose control may reduce the overall risk of diabetic neuropathy by more than 60 percent.”
The most common type of diabetic neuropathy is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.
DPN is nerve damage that causes numbness, tingling and pain and or a burning sensation in the extremities.
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse defines DPN:
Peripheral neuropathy, also called distal symmetric neuropathy or sensorimotor neuropathy, is nerve damage in the arms and legs. Your feet and legs are likely to be affected before your hands and arms. Many people with diabetes have signs of neuropathy that a doctor could note but feel no symptoms themselves. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may include
- numbness or insensitivity to pain or temperature
- a tingling, burning, or prickling sensation
- sharp pains or cramps
- extreme sensitivity to touch, even light touch
- loss of balance and coordination
These symptoms are often worse at night.
Tina Radcliffe spent many years caring for and teaching newly diagnosed diabetics in the home setting. Her other experiences include ... .. 
