Diabetic Neuropathy Research Paper

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Diabetic neuropathy refers to a group of nerve disorders that are the result of diabetes. This often occurs in people who have had the disease for about 20 to 25 years, when nerve damage may have begun to occur. Diabetic neuropathy requires monitoring and treatment because it can be especially uncomfortable, causing tingling, numbing and pain in the hands, arms, legs and feet. Very often, patients feel weakness in these areas of the body. Diabetic neuropathy can also affect vital organs such as the heart, sex organs and the digestive track.

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
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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