Diabetic Neuropathy Symptoms
Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of both Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Neuropathy plays a major role in the development of foot ulcers, which cause an enormous burden on quality of life for the patient (especially if amputation becomes necessary). Motor, sensory, and autonomic fibres may all be affected by diabetic neuropathy.
The peripheral complications associated with diabetic neuropathy like pain, disability, vascular disease, and nerve degeneration are considered progressive and irreversible. The prognosis is generally progression of the disease, ongoing pain, amputation of digits or limbs, and increased disability. Improvement is considered unlikely.
At the microscopic level, it is thought that neuropathy causes segmental demyelination of the peripheral nerve fibers. This means that the protective nerve covering called myelin is somehow broken down and stripped off the nerve fibers in a segmental fashion. Spirally folded Schwann cells form the myelin sheath and it is thought that the metabolism of the Schwann cell is somehow interfered with during the process of diabetic neuropathy.
Autonomic neuropathies affect the nerves that regulate involuntary vital functions, including the heart muscle, smooth muscles and glands. Low blood pressure, diarrhea, constipation, sexual impotence, and other symptoms can be caused by autonomic neuropathies.
Symptoms: numbness, tingling, diarrhea, constipation, loss of bladder control, impotence, facial drooping, drooping eyelid, drooping mouth, vision changes, dizziness, weakness, swallowing difficulty, speech impairment, these are the some of the symptom of neuropathy.
The symptoms for this form of diabetic neuropathy are most common in the toes and feet and normally appear there first. The finger and hands can also be affected but this usually occurs during the later stages of the disease. Where the symptoms appear will depend on what nerves fibers are affected.
The symptoms can differ among individuals and is dependent on the amount of damage done to the nerves. It is a disorder that will get progressively worse if the diabetes is not properly managed. The first signs will normally be a subjective change in sensation in the extremities that can include numbness and tingling.
Other symptoms can include an aching pain, a burning or shooting sensation, or feeling like you have cold feet. As the neuropathy progresses the symptoms can include impaired sensations of pain, touch, temperature, vibration, and two-point discrimination. The only way to treat polyneuropathy is through management of the diabetes itself.
Mononeuropathies are isolated events that affect single nerves. The symptoms of this form of neuropathy are entirely dependent on which nerve is affected. They can affect the oculomotor nerve which can lead to headache, eye pains and an inability to move the eye in any direction.
Another symptom of mononeuropathies is Radiculopathy which is characterized by pain that seems to radiate from the spine to extend outward to cause symptoms away from the source of the spinal nerve root irritation. It is thought to be caused by an inadequate blood supply to the spinal nerve roots.
All diabetics, whether type 1 or type 2, need to be aware of the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. The sooner it is brought to the attention of the diabetics health care providers the sooner it can be managed through proper lifestyle choices that are centered on diet, exercise, and proper medical management.
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