Type 2 Diabetes - Getting Your Neuropathy Under Control

One of the possible complications of Type 2 diabetes is neuropathy, or nerve damage. Neuropathy is caused by chronically high blood sugar. The excess sugar in the blood eventually damages fibers of the small nerves in the body. Usually the nerves of the feet and legs are affected first, but the nerve damage can also affect the...

digestive system,

urinary system,

circulatory system, and

other parts of the body.
There are four main types of neuropathy. They are...

peripheral neuropathy,

autonomic neuropathy,

radiculoplexus neuropathy (which is also called diabetic amyotrophy), and

mononeuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type which starts in your feet and legs, and then moves to your hands and arms. The symptoms of this type of neuropathy include pain, tingling, and sensitivity, as well as numbness and difficulty feeling pain. These symptoms can lead to foot complications like ulcers and infections.Autonomic neuropathy is the type that can affect your heart, stomach, and bladder as well as your lungs and eyes. It is caused by damage to the nerves of your autonomic nervous system which controls these areas.Radiculoplexus neuropathy affects only the nerves in the buttocks, hips, legs, and thighs. It usually affects only one side of the body.


Mononeuropathy affects just one nerve at a time. It can cause severe pain but it usually goes away on its own.All of these types of neuropathy are caused by chronically high blood sugar - so tightly controlling your blood sugar reading is the best way to prevent them occurring in your body. Smoking and alcohol can also damage blood vessels and nerves, so avoiding any smoking and more than a moderate amount of alcohol, can also help.If you do have neuropathy, the best way to treat it is to slow the progression of the disease, decrease pain, and re-establish function. Keeping your blood sugar controlled and stable is the best way to slow or halt the progress of neuropathy. You can do this through...

following your healthy meal plan,

exercising, and

reaching or maintaining a healthy weight.
Also, if you smoke, it is wise to quit. If you drink alcohol, limit it to one drink per day for women and two per day for men.To relieve pain from neuropathy there are certain medications your doctor can prescribe to help you - medications such as lidocaine patches or opioids. There are also treatments to help you restore function lost through nerve damage. For example, if you have digestive problems or bladder problems caused due to neuropathy, these can be treated by medications and in some cases, lifestyle changes and behavioral techniques.