Type 2 Diabetes - How to Ease the Discomfort of Diabetic Neuropathy!

The term "diabetic neuropathy" serves as a name used to describe a group of nerve disorders caused by Type 2 diabetes. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, around sixty to seventy percent of people with Type 2 diabetes end up having some forms of diabetic neuropathy. This problem can develop anytime in a diabetic... no one is really sure yet why high blood sugar levels lead to nerve problems. But the longer a person has diabetes, the more likely it is they will develop neuropathy.

What are the risk factors for the development of diabetic neuropathy?

1. Number of years having diabetes: People who have diabetes for more than twenty-five years are at a higher risk for diabetic neuropathy.

2. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels: Uncontrolled blood sugar level causes faster development of peripheral neuropathy.

3. High cholesterol level.

4. Overweight and obesity.

In most cases, people who complain about nerve pains are those having the peripheral type of neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy, involving the hands and/or feet, is the most common form of diabetic neuropathy. When you have this condition, you:

- lose the sensation of light touch
- often experience tingling and burning
- experience loss of balance
- worsening of the symptoms at night
- pain

Damage to your feet may occur because you simply do not feel it happening. Infection may set in which could even lead to amputation.

According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, diabetics suffering from peripheral neuropathy usually visit their doctor because they can no longer tolerate the discomfort they have at night.

How do you ease the discomfort associated with peripheral neuropathy?

1. Topical treatment: Treatments may be applied to the skin to ease the pain and discomfort. The most common examples of topical treatment are capsaicin cream and lidocaine patches. Other possible topical treatments currently being investigated include nitrate sprays, alpha lipoic acid and primrose oil.

2. Oral medications: Most doctors treat neuropathy through the use of oral medications. The most common examples include:

-anticonvulsants - the most common anticonvulsants used are pregabalin, gabapentin and carbamazepine
tricyclic antidepressants - may include imipramine, amitriptyline and desipramine
opiods and opiod-like medications such as oxycodone and tramadol
vitamin B 12 - according to a study published by Acta Neurologica Taiwanica in June 2005, vitamin B 12 may also be an effective medication for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy in diabetics. However, a larger scale study is still needed to establish this fact.

Home treatments such as warm compress are usually discouraged since this action may burn the skin. Type 2 diabetics should seek the advice of their doctor before commencing any treatment offering them relief from any pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.

How to Prevent High Blood Sugars in the Morning!

Do you ever wake up with high blood sugar? There may be a reason: the Dawn Phenomenon.

To prepare for the day, your body releases hormones - glucagon, epinephrine, growth hormone and cortisol - that raise glucose levels. This typically causes a 10-20 mg/dl (.5-1 mmol/L) rise.

So unless you get up with the birds, around 3 to 6 am, you won’t know your blood sugar is high until you wake up - and feel lousy.

If you didn’t have diabetes, your pancreas would release enough insulin to keep your blood sugars normal. Unfortunately, you don’t have this luxury.

Luckily, we have some tips to help.

First - Confirm It’s the Dawn Phenomenon!

Are your high blood sugars due to hormones, a big meal the night before or a rebound from a nighttime low?

Check your blood glucose levels in the middle of the night - around 3 am. (Don’t worry, you don’t need to do this every night!) If it’s high, then the problem started before you went to bed. If it's low, you may be experiencing rebound high blood sugars.

If your blood sugars are typically normal at 3 am, then you are experiencing Dawn Phenomenon.

Kick the Dawn Phenomenon:

First, take a deep breath. A small rise may be okay if your glucose levels are normal throughout the day. The Dawn Phenomenond usually causes a smaller rise than a typical meal.

The most effective solution is to adjust when you take blood sugar lowering medication. If you can take long acting insulin or medication before bed, it will peak when the Dawn Phenomenon occurs and balance it out. Your doctor may even recommend splitting it into two doses to accomplish this. (If you are taking Metformin or Actos, remember to take it with a snack - they can have unpleasant intestinal side effects).

If you’re on an insulin pump, the solution is as easy as setting a high basal rate for pre-dawn hours.

Remember: talk to your doctor before making any changes!