What is the Meaning & Definition of diabetic neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is a neurological complication that is typical of people who suffer from diabetes, affecting 6 of every 10 diabetics. Its incidence increases to the extent that the person spends more years with the disease, especially if you fail a good control of it. It is a disorder that affects the peripheral nerves preventing its normal operation, due to the deterioration of the sheath of myelin, a coating that have all the nerves and that is essential for nerve impulse transmission process is carried out. This lesion is directly related to the high levels of glucose in blood and other tissues for long periods of time.
This disorder may affect various types of nerves, which is accompanied by characteristic symptoms. While there are several classifications, we could group it into two main types according to the type of nerves that are affected.
Note that both types simultaneously, as that may be the case that a diabetic person who been adequately controlled does not have such manifestations may present in one person.
Neuropathy sensory - motor
It is the most common neuropathy type affects the nerves responsible for transmitting signals related to the skin sensitivity, the location of a part of the body in space, as well as to the mobilization of a particular muscle or body segment
This neuropathy affects mainly the arms and legs starting with the hands and feet to be progressing to involve all Member. Characterized by the presence of sensations such as tingling, prickling or corrientazos, in degrees advanced patients describe discomfort as if they were burning it the soles of their feet with hot coals or burning coals.
The lack of sensitivity in the feet is a factor that predisposes and favours the development of lesions and ulcers in these patients, that's be cared for not properly treated can lead to serious infections that end in amputation.
Another form of motor neuropathy occurs due to a nerve in specific to causing pain followed by paralysis or weakness, the most affected are the facial nerve resulting in facial paralysis, intercostal nerve, cervical or lumbar roots or peripheral nerves of the arms or legs.
Autonomic neuropathy
In this type of diabetic neuropathy, the condition is located in system self-contained, i.e. sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, causing disorders in the functioning of viscera and some glands. The main manifestations of this type of neuropathy are slow gastric emptying which produces a feeling of constant fullness, the presence of constipation or diarrhea, problems in the emptying of the gallbladder which leads to the development of gallstones, reflux and vomiting.
Other manifestations correspond to changes in heart rate, producing tachycardia or bradycardia, syncope (fainting), retention of urine, frequent urinary tract infections, increase or lack of sweating.
The best strategy against diabetic neuropathy is prevention, because once it appears it cannot be cured completely by what would require a series of care by specialists which means higher costs for patients. One of the goals of achieving adequate metabolic control is precisely to prevent the occurrence of this complication significantly affecting the quality of life of sufferers it.
This disorder may affect various types of nerves, which is accompanied by characteristic symptoms. While there are several classifications, we could group it into two main types according to the type of nerves that are affected.
Note that both types simultaneously, as that may be the case that a diabetic person who been adequately controlled does not have such manifestations may present in one person.
Neuropathy sensory - motor
It is the most common neuropathy type affects the nerves responsible for transmitting signals related to the skin sensitivity, the location of a part of the body in space, as well as to the mobilization of a particular muscle or body segment
This neuropathy affects mainly the arms and legs starting with the hands and feet to be progressing to involve all Member. Characterized by the presence of sensations such as tingling, prickling or corrientazos, in degrees advanced patients describe discomfort as if they were burning it the soles of their feet with hot coals or burning coals.
The lack of sensitivity in the feet is a factor that predisposes and favours the development of lesions and ulcers in these patients, that's be cared for not properly treated can lead to serious infections that end in amputation.
Another form of motor neuropathy occurs due to a nerve in specific to causing pain followed by paralysis or weakness, the most affected are the facial nerve resulting in facial paralysis, intercostal nerve, cervical or lumbar roots or peripheral nerves of the arms or legs.
Autonomic neuropathy
In this type of diabetic neuropathy, the condition is located in system self-contained, i.e. sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, causing disorders in the functioning of viscera and some glands. The main manifestations of this type of neuropathy are slow gastric emptying which produces a feeling of constant fullness, the presence of constipation or diarrhea, problems in the emptying of the gallbladder which leads to the development of gallstones, reflux and vomiting.
Other manifestations correspond to changes in heart rate, producing tachycardia or bradycardia, syncope (fainting), retention of urine, frequent urinary tract infections, increase or lack of sweating.
The best strategy against diabetic neuropathy is prevention, because once it appears it cannot be cured completely by what would require a series of care by specialists which means higher costs for patients. One of the goals of achieving adequate metabolic control is precisely to prevent the occurrence of this complication significantly affecting the quality of life of sufferers it.