There's a lot you can do to prevent or delay nerve damage. And, if you already have diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), these steps can prevent or delay further damage and may lessen your symptoms.
The most important thing is to keep blood sugar levels under control:
Healthy planned diet, physical activity and medications, if prescribed, can help you reach your target range.
Use a blood glucose meter to check your daily levels.
Get an A1C test (a lab test) at least twice a year to find…
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The symptoms and signs of diabetic neuropathy depend on the type of neuropathy present with varying severity. 1. Peripheral neuropathy This presents with numbness or tingling, pain or burning sensations, loss of sensation in the feet or lower legs and sometimes in the hands or arms. This affects the peripheral nerves, most commonly the nerves of the feet and legs. 2. Proximal neuropathy This presents with one-sided pain in the hips, weakness in the thigh muscles, weight…
The treatment is based on the types of diabetic neuropathy 1. Peripheral neuropathy treatment Manage pain with standard analgesics Maintain HbA1c below 7% Avoid tobacco and narcotics Localised pain can be managed with topical capsaicin, antidepressants (duloxetine, amitriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, venlafaxine), anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, gabapentin, phenytoin), or antiarrhythmic drug mexilitine (oral lidocaine). 2. Proximal neuropathy treatment Manage joint pain with…
There are four types of diabetic neuropathy. 1. Peripheral neuropathy This presents with numbness or tingling, pain or burning sensations, loss of sensation in the feet or lower legs and sometimes in the hands or arms. This is the most common type of neuropathy that affects the peripheral nerves, most commonly the nerves of the feet and legs. 2. Proximal neuropathy This presents with one-sided pain in the hips, weakness in the thigh muscles, weight loss, difficulty getting up…
Are you at risk? The following are the risk factors for Diabetic Neuropathy: Persistent hyperglycemia, HbA1c >8%, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and duration of diabetes
Prevention Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine to prevent recurrent UTIs. In the meantime, there are simple steps you can take to help prevent UTIs. Health departments recommend: Wiping from front to back after urinating or having a bowel movement. Drinking six to eight glasses of water daily. Drinking water after having sex. Not holding urine for long periods of time. Cleaning your vaginal and rectal areas daily. Taking showers instead of baths. Wearing comfortable underwear, tight…
Here are some useful tips on management of Urinary Tract Infection including dietary guidelines, your UTI management team and what to watch out if you have frequent UTI infections If you are getting frequent infections, try to identify specific triggers as they can be avoided. For women, behavioural modifications such as avoiding use of spermicides, proper perineal care like wiping front to back and postcoital voiding is recommended. In post-menopausal women, vaginal estrogen application…
Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs. Lower UTIs can be treated with oral antibiotics. Upper UTIs require intravenous antibiotics. Sometimes, bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics. Urine cultures can help your doctor select an effective antibiotic treatment. The following antibiotics are used to treat UTIs: Beta-lactams, including penicillins and cephalosporins (for example, Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Keflex, Duricef, Ceftin, Lorabid, Rocephin, Cephalexin, Suprax and others). Trimethoprim -…
Diagnosis History and physical exam may suggest whether you have a lower or upper UTI. Definitive diagnosis requires a “clean catch” urine specimen. This is urine collected from the middle of the urinary stream (decreases the contamination of cells and microbes). The doctor will instruct how to do a clean catch. The goal is to avoid picking up bacteria from patient’s skin. Read: Know Your Tests: The Urine Test Doctors will look for a large number of white blood cells in the…
