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Diabetic neuropathy affects up to 50% of people with diabetes, damaging nerves throughout the body. At Integrated Pain Consultants in Scottsdale, Mesa, and Phoenix, Arizona, Nikesh Seth, MD, and the team specialize in managing diabetic neuropathy pain with safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatments. After an exam and testing, they can make personalized care recommendations. Call the nearest office today to request a diabetic neuropathy consultation, or book your appointment online.
Diabetic Neuropathy Q & A
If I have diabetes, will I develop diabetic neuropathy?
Diabetes is a group of chronic diseases that affect your body’s ability to regulate blood glucose (sugar). If your blood sugar remains consistently high, it can injure your nerves and affect their function.
Even so, being diagnosed with diabetes doesn’t always result in diabetic neuropathy. Managing your blood sugar and living a healthy lifestyle can prevent your diabetes from worsening.
Are there types of diabetic neuropathy?
The Integrated Pain Consultants team treats several types of diabetic neuropathy, including:
Peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy damages nerves in the extremities, like your hands and feet. Telltale signs include tingling, numbness, and sharp pains or cramps.
Autonomic neuropathy
Autonomic neuropathy damages the nerves that control your heart rate, blood pressure, and digestive system (the autonomic nervous system).
Proximal neuropathy
Proximal neuropathy affects the nerves in your hips, buttocks, and lower back. It often triggers musculoskeletal discomfort, like severe thigh or hip pain.
Mononeuropathy
Mononeuropathy affects a specific nerve. Often, this type of neuropathy injures nerves in the face, chest, or legs.
All types of neuropathy present similar symptoms. The Integrated Pain Consultants team can make a diagnosis and personalized treatment recommendations.
How is diabetic neuropathy diagnosed?
Your Integrated Pain Consultants provider reviews your medical records and completes a physical exam. They check your tendon reflexes and assess your sensitivity to touch, temperature, and vibration.
Next, your provider orders several specialized tests, including:
Electromyography (EMG)
This minimally invasive procedure measures electrical discharges produced by your muscles. It’s commonly done with nerve conduction testing.
Nerve conduction testing
This test measures how well the nerves and muscles in your legs and arms conduct electrical signals. Slower than average readings might indicate nerve damage.
The team uses your test results to guide treatment.
How is diabetic neuropathy treated?
There’s no cure for diabetic neuropathy, but intervention can slow its progression, relieve pain, and reduce your risk of complications. Often, the Integrated Pain Consultants team recommends a combination of healthy lifestyle changes and prescription medication.
For example, eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight can regulate your blood sugar and prevent your diabetes from worsening. Likewise, prescription medications like anti-seizure drugs or antidepressants can relieve tingling, numbness, and muscle cramps.
To learn more about treatment for diabetic neuropathy, call the nearest Integrated Pain Consultants office today, or book your appointment online.