Who is at Risk?
The longer a patient has had diabetes, the higher the risk he will develop the disorder. It is also common in people who are over 40 years old, overweight, have hypertension and those who …show more content…
The goal of a treatment for diabetic neuropathy is to obtain relief from the discomfort caused by the disorder and to prevent further damage to nerves and tissues. The first thing that a patient must do to treat diabetic neuropathy is to regulate his blood glucose levels. By keeping blood glucose within normal range, further damage to the nerves can be minimized or avoided. This may be done by regularly monitoring blood glucose for any changes, eating a sensible, healthy diet, getting enough exercise and taking medications such as insulin injections and oral drugs.
During the initial stages of treatment when the blood glucose is regulated, symptoms for diabetic neuropathy might worsen. As treatment progresses, symptoms become less severe and should not be too bothersome to the patient.
Treatment for Pain
In cases where diabetic neuropathy causes pain, tingling, numbness or burning, painkillers such as acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen may be prescribed. Other options such as anti-convulsant oral medications and capsaicin-containing topical creams may also be used. Severe pain may be addressed with codeine, although its use should be limited and strictly monitored due to its addictive