Currently, there is no permanent cure for diabetic neuropathy only keeps it from getting worst. Good diabetes care is the first step to prevent or treat diabetic neuropathy.
Neuropathy treatment first step - Diabetes care
- Eat food that is good - follow the food pyramid,
- Be physically active – diabetes exercise,
- Monitor blood-glucose level and keep it in target,
- Monitor and maintain hemoglobin A1C (Hb A1C) at near normal,
- Have your medicine or injection in time and learn to adjust the volume with respect to your varying needs.
Diabetic neuropathy treatment
Treatment for diabetic neuropathy depends on your symptoms and the type of neuropathy that you have. In general, treatment focuses on reducing current symptoms and preventing the condition from getting worse.
Peripheral neuropathy treatment
Peripheral neuropathy has been mild to severe pain in specific parts of the bodies. Consult your doctor about treatment that can reduce the pain and improve physical and mental well-being. These treatments may include:
- Medicines suggested for treatments are pain relievers or creams to relieve pain. Most often prescription medicines are useful to reduce pain may include medicines used for the treatment of depression, such as tricyclic antidepressants and the antidepressant duloxetine hydrochloride, and medicines that control seizures, such as pregabalin and gabapentin. These medicines may reduce pain even though not having depression or seizures.
- Some studies show acupuncture or acupressure may be helpful in the treatment of diabetes neuropathy by relieving the pain.
- Physical therapy such as exercises, stretching, yoga, and massage; consult your physician before starting physical therapy. If you decided to take yoga, consult registered yoga teacher for your yoga poses. If you decide (or advised) to use heat or cool, be careful, do not go beyond a certain limit, because neuropathies are not sensitive to temperature changes.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a neuropathy treatment to reduce pain by applying brief electrical pulses to nerve endings in the skin.
Autonomic neuropathy treatment
Autonomic nerve may cause problems in digestion, urination, sweating, sexual function, blood pressure, and other involuntary body functions.
- Constipation - Eat food rich in fiber.
- Frequent diarrhea - Eat foods that are high in fiber. Use anti diarrhea medications and may need antibiotics such as tetracycline, amoxicillin, or metronidazole.
- Mild gastroparesis – disorder of stomach causing delayed stomach emptying. Eat small frequent foods that are low in fiber and fats. You may also need medicines for quick stomach emptying.
- Abnormal sweating – high or over sweating can be controlled by avoid intense heat and humid condition, and some Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections may also help. For low sweating use moisturizers to prevent dry or cracked skin. Drinking more water can prevent overheating. Try to avoid places that are extreme, hot, or cold.
- Urinary tract infection - can be treating with antibiotics for urinary tract.
- Bladder problems – manage urinary incontinence by following timely urination and do not wait for urge.
- Sexual problems – consult doctor to diagnose the cause and treatment accordingly. Doctor may suggest using medicines or devices to improve erections. For women may need nonprescription lubricants and estrogen creams for vaginal dryness.
- Blood pressure problems - can be treating with medicines and by wearing compression stockings.
Proximal neuropathy treatment
Weakness or pain, mostly one-sided in thighs, hips, buttocks, and legs
- Treatment for weakness or pain is usually medication and physical therapy.
- Prevention consists of keeping blood-glucose under tight control.
Focal neuropathy treatment
Double vision, eye pain, paralysis on one side of the face, severe pain in lower back or legs, chest or abdominal pain (mistakenly diagnosed as heart attack or appendicitis). Treatment is based on the symptoms, mostly pain relieving medications.