We have a friend with diabetes. (This is not a euphemism, we
really do.) He does not take care of himself. We think that it is a case, which
we can completely understand, where he feels okay so he can’t really be sick. But,
of course, he is.
I had heard that he had been having problems with leg cramps
at night – very painful leg cramps that drive him from his bed to try and find
relief. The night time cramps were becoming more and more frequent. Last week,
he mentioned the problem to his doctor. He was told that the cramps were from peripheral
neuropathy. I had no idea that leg cramps could be a sign of peripheral neuropathy. I have done a little research that I am sharing with you.
What is peripheral
neuropathy?
There are four kinds of diabetic neuropathy. There is
peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, proximal neuropathy, and focal neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy
is the term for damage to the nerves in the arms and legs. One of the
problems is that the damage can start before the symptoms occur. A doctor may
be able to see damage before the patient can tell there is a problem. On each
visit with your doctors, you should have them check out your legs and feet. The
symptoms that a patient will notice can be as follows:
·
Not feeling pain or temperature changes
·
A burning or tingling sensation
·
Sharp pains or cramps
·
Sensitivity to touch – even a light touch
·
Becoming unbalanced/ having coordination
problems
The symptoms are often worse at
night.
Because peripheral neuropathy can weaken the muscles in the legs and ankles, it can alter the way a person walks.
What causes peripheral neuropathy?
The main cause of peripheral
neuropathy is lack of control over blood sugar levels. Also, the length of time
that a person has diabetes will also increase the chances of developing peripheral
neuropathy. People who have trouble controlling their blood sugar levels, as
well as those with high levels of blood fat and blood pressure and those who
are overweight appear to be the most common people who suffer from peripheral
neuropathy.
What is the treatment?
The first step is to get the
blood glucose levels under control. This will be the most important part of the
treatment. The patient has to work closely with their diabetes team (internist,
endocrinologist, dietician, family) to keep their levels in the correct range
to try and prevent more damage. It can happen that in the process of getting
the levels lowered that the symptoms can get worse but then they will improve. There
is no cure at this time but there can be some relief and getting levels in the
right range will help prevent further damage.
Our friend is currently really
working on getting his levels in the correct range.
Thanks for reading!
NOTE: I am not a doctor. If you have questions about what you have read, please check with your doctor.
Certainly, you are Right!!
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