What is diabetic nerve pain?
Like the name suggests, diabetic nerve pain or diabetic neuropathy is a medical condition that can affect people suffering from type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It basically is a form of a damage which can cause numbness, tingling or pain in the nerves of the body. Such health condition gradually develops in a diabetic’s body, if he/she has failed to effectively curb high blood glucose levels for an extensive period.
Understanding peripheral diabetic nerve pain
Although, there are 4 forms of diabetic nerve pains (peripheral, proximal, autonomic and focal), the most common one is peripheral which causes pain or numbness in the hands, legs or feet. About 60% of the diabetic patients have a risk of developing peripheral diabetic neuropathy.
Mostly, this type of condition can be observed in elderly diabetic individuals. It is important to get diabetic nerve pain diagnosed quickly, but this can be hard as in the early stages there might not be any discernible symptoms. Some of the common symptoms observed in the later stages are sharp pain, burning, numbness, tingling, twitching, heightened sensitivity, poor balance and muscle cramps. If you can observe even the slightest forms of these signs, then you should immediately consult a doctor to gain clarity on your health situation.
How to alleviate peripheral diabetic nerve pain?
Diabetic neuropathy has no known cure, but there is no need to get disheartened because with the help of medical professionals and some personal initiatives, you can overcome the discomfort caused by nerve pains. To help you get fit and started, here are some remedies which are commonly utilized for alleviating diabetic nerve pain.
Maintaining blood glucose levels – The primary reason for the cause of peripheral diabetic neuropathy is high blood glucose levels. You should begin by targeting the crux of the matter, that is by managing a healthy amount of sugar in the blood. The best way to do this is by seeking the counsel of your doctor. They can prescribe you with appropriate medications and insulin dosages to ease the distress caused by this condition.
Medications – Apart from diabetic drugs, your doctor might suggest you with specific types of anti-seizure or antidepressants which could possibly offer you relief from peripheral diabetic nerve pain. However, these medicines work differently for everyone. Also, if you happen to face any kind of side-effects after using a particular medication, the instantly notify your doctor. You must remember not to self-prescribe such medications, as they can adversely intensify a new health issue.
Diet – What kind of food you eat, highly impacts your blood glucose levels. So, you should ensure that you consume a well-balanced diet. Try reducing carbohydrates, processed foods and refined sugar in your diet. Emphasize on having vegetables, fruits, fish, lean proteins and healthy fats. One of the best ways to implement this is by preparing meals at home. This lends you some control over the inclusions and quantity of ingredients. Don’t forget to have ample of water, so that your body could replenish cells, eliminate toxins and improve the overall blood circulation in the affected nerves.
Low impact exercises – The pain cause by peripheral diabetic neuropathy can possibly have drastic effects like increased sensitivity to touch and inability to walk. You can tackle this situation by exercising daily for minimum half an hour. Your workout sessions can comprise low impact activities such as swimming, walking and cycling. Primarily exercise can help you maintain a perfect body weight and also as it increases the mobility factor, it’ll enhance the blood circulation in the damaged nerves, helping the ache become less severe.
Eliminate drinking or smoking habits – Drinking and smoking can aggravate your blood sugar levels, by dehydrating your body and clogging the nerves, subsequently worsening your nerve discomfort. So entirely cut down on such damaging habits, as they increase the chances of developing irreversible diabetic nerve damage.
Essential oils – Massaging essential oils can diminish the pain or numbness in hands or feet. This can also help reduce any form of inflammation that has been bothering you for a long time. Lavender, chamomile, peppermint, geranium, eucalyptus, clove, etc. are some of the commonly used essential oils to gain relief from nerve pain.
Hygiene – Nerve pain can also cause blisters, ulcer and sores on the skin, especially on the hands, legs and feet. So regularly scan your body for any such signs. When it comes a hygiene take certain measures like washing hands and feet after coming from outside, trimming toenails and using clean laundry. You should also avoid wearing tight footwear which can hurt your feet.
Meditate – Dealing with diabetic nerve pain can be challenging as it can affect your body’s movements on a significant level. Such situations can also bring down your mental energies. By using meditation, you can improve your state of mind, which can self-motivate you to work on your diabetic condition.
