Over time, diabetics can develop nerve damage or neuropathy. Around 60 percent of diabetics cahhhgggn have some form of neuropathy. Some people have nerve problems while some others can have nerve damage with no symptoms. This can be felt as pain, tingling, or numbness of the feet and hands.
The risk of having some form of neuropathy also increases with the duration of the diabetes. Those who have uncontrolled blood sugar levels also have increased risk of having neuropathy. Other factors include high blood pressure and obesity or being overweight.
There are several causes of diabetic neuropathies. Most common are high blood glucose, high blood fat levels, and long duration of diabetes. Inflammation of the nerves caused by autoimmune factors is another cause. Genetics also plays a role in increased risk of nerve disease. Smoking and alcohol use are also contributing factors to developing neuropathy.
The symptoms usually start as numbness, tingling, or pain in the feet. Later on, the numbness or pain can be felt in the toes, legs, arms, hands, and fingers. Other signs and symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, and weakness.
There are also different types of diabetic neuropathy but the most common is peripheral neuropathy. The feet and legs are frequently affected first, followed by the hands and arms. It is a long term complication of diabetes and the damage to the nerves occurs over a long time.
For diabetics, controlling the blood glucose levels and engaging in regular exercise can help prevent neuropathy. Eat a diet that is lower in calories and higher in complex carbohydrates such as those found in vegetables, beans, and whole grains.
Nerve damage is also very common in people with vitamin B12 deficiency. This vitamin is helpful in the proper functioning of the nervous system and in the production of red blood cells. A deficiency in vitamin B1 or thiamine is also linked to vascular system damage, which includes the nerves in the hands and feet. Thiamine is essential for numerous metabolic functions of the body.
In addition to proper diet, regular exercise a neuropathy supplement such as NeuRx with B1 and B12 can help diabetics and non diabetics to prevent tingling, numbness, and burning pains to the feet and hands.
