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Treatment For Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects millions of people worldwide. It can lead to several complications, including neuropathy. This can affect various types of nerves in your body, including those in your muscles, organs, and feet.

Nerves transmit messages between the brain and other regions, allowing us to move, feel, see, and hear. They also regulate different organs, such as the heart and lungs, which are crucial for maintaining life. Therefore, nerve damage can cause significant complications in different body parts, particularly for people with type 2 diabetes or other diabetes types.

This article will discuss the symptoms, causes, types, symptoms, and treatment options available for neuropathy-related complications of Type 2 Diabetes.

Diabetes Treatment

If you're dealing with neuropathy-related complications of Type 2 Diabetes, MyoDynamic Health can help. Our team of experienced professionals specializes in preventing and treating these issues, offering various prevention and treatment options to suit your needs. Here are a few examples:

Custom Orthotics for Diabetics: These custom-made devices are specifically designed to provide your feet with stability, shock absorption and prevent ulcers by redistributing pressure. They are created to fit your feet precisely, ensuring maximum comfort and effectiveness.

CROW Boot: This removable walking boot can help alleviate pressure on ulcers, promoting healing. It supports and protects the foot and ankle, reducing pain and discomfort.

Compression Socks for Diabetics: Medical compression socks can help prevent swelling and ulcers, as they have seamless stitching and offer more shock absorption than regular socks. They are specially designed to fit comfortably and provide optimal support.

Orthopedic Footwear: Custom-made footwear can help reduce pressure on your feet, preventing ulcers. They are designed to fit comfortably and offer maximum support to protect and support your feet effectively.

Treatment for Diabetic Neuropathy

Physiotherapy for diabetes focuses on improving the physical function and mobility of the body, and it can help manage the symptoms associated with diabetic neuropathy, such as pain, numbness, and weakness.

At MyoDynamic Health, our physiotherapists can design specific exercise programs tailored to the individual's needs, which can help improve balance, strength, and coordination. Additionally, depending on your unique needs, they will use various techniques, such as massage, heat therapy, and electrical stimulation, to alleviate pain and promote healing.

The best thing is that physiotherapy can also help prevent further complications and improve the overall quality of life for individuals with diabetic neuropathy.

Our prevention program focuses on educating patients about the importance of maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight. We also provide regular foot exams to detect any potential problems early. Book your appointment now!

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy

Signs and symptoms of neuropathy in type 2 diabetes neuropathy-related complications usually occur gradually and may start with the nerves of the feet. It can cause a painful sensation of pins and needles. Symptoms vary depending on the affected areas, but some common symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include:

Numbness or pain in the hands or feet
A burning feeling in the feet, especially at night
Sensitivity to touch
Loss of feeling in the hands or feet
Difficulty with walking and coordination
Weakness or wasting of muscles
Feeling bloated or full
Nausea, indigestion, or vomiting
Diarrhea or constipation
Dizziness when standing up
Excessive or decreased sweating
Problems with bladder control, like not being able to empty the bladder completely
Dryness in the vagina
Erectile dysfunction
Not being able to feel when blood sugar is low
Vision problems, such as double vision
A faster heart rate

Different Types of Neuropathy-related Complications of Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetic neuropathy is the predominant complication in individuals with diabetes, affecting around 50% of this population. Typically, symptoms of this condition appear 10 to 20 years after diagnosis. Patients may experience a range of common conditions associated with this issue, including:

Ulcers

If you have diabetic neuropathy, you may develop ulcers when a part of your skin breaks down and exposes the tissue below. These ulcers commonly appear on your feet or lower legs, where the nerve damage is most likely. If you have ulcers, you may feel pain, swelling, and redness in the affected area. Sadly, if you don't treat these ulcers, they can become infected and cause severe complications.

Charcot Foot

If you have diabetic neuropathy, you may also develop a serious complication known as Charcot's foot. This condition affects the bones and joints in your foot and happens when the nerves become damaged, causing the bones to weaken and break. Common symptoms of the condition include swelling, redness, and changes in the shape of your foot, making walking difficult. You will also be at risk of developing ulcers.

Loss of balance

Patients with diabetic neuropathy also grapple with a loss of balance due to nerve damage in the legs and feet. It can lead to falls, which can cause serious injuries, especially in older patients. When maintaining balance becomes challenging, you may need to use assistive devices such as canes or walkers to help you maintain your balance and avoid falls.

Swelling/Venous stasis

If you have nerve damage, it can impact the muscles in your legs, resulting in reduced blood flow and swelling in your feet and ankles. The swelling can cause venous stasis, where the blood accumulates in your veins, leading to more swelling and a higher chance of developing ulcers.

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is a complication of diabetic neuropathy that affects the stomach. Nerve damage can cause the muscles in the stomach to stop working properly, leading to slow digestion and delayed stomach emptying. This can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, which is debilitating for most patients.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you are grappling with diabetic neuropathy, it's important to know that your chances of developing carpal tunnel syndrome are pretty high. It is a condition that can affect your hands and wrists. It is due to inflammation and compression of the median nerve, which runs through your wrist and hand and can result in pain, numbness, and tingling that can interfere with your daily activities.

Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease is a complication of diabetic neuropathy that affects the blood vessels in the legs and feet. Nerve damage can cause the blood vessels to narrow and harden, leading to poor circulation and an increased risk of amputation.

Autonomic Neuropathy

When you have diabetic neuropathy, another complication that may occur is called autonomic neuropathy. It affects your autonomic nervous system, which controls the automatic functions of your body, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion.

Damaged nerves can disrupt these functions, leading to symptoms such as feeling dizzy when standing up, sweating excessively, having constipation or diarrhea, feeling bloated or full, experiencing nausea or vomiting, and having bladder problems like not emptying your body bladder fully, and having a sexual dysfunction.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetic Neuropathy

While the exact causes of diabetic neuropathy remain unclear, experts have identified several factors that may contribute to the development of this disorder.

High Blood Sugar and Diabetic Neuropathy:

Elevated blood glucose levels have been found to play a significant role in diabetic neuropathy. High blood sugar causes chemical changes in the nerves, impairing their ability to transmit signals effectively. Additionally, it can destroy blood vessels that carry essential nutrients and oxygen to the nerves.

Metabolic Factors and Diabetic Neuropathy:

Metabolic aspects, including high levels of triglycerides and cholesterol, have also been linked to an increased risk of diabetic neuropathy. Patients who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk of developing this condition.

Inherited Factors and Diabetic Neuropathy:

Although environmental factors cause most diabetic neuropathy cases, some inherited traits may make certain individuals more susceptible to nerve disease than others. These genetic characteristics may contribute to the development of diabetic neuropathy in some individuals.

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