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How to keep your nervous system healthy with diabetes

About 60 to 70% of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy, or diabetes-related nerve disorder. People with diabetes can develop nerve problems at any time, but risk rises with age and longer duration of diabetes. The highest rates of neuropathy are among people who have had diabetes for at least 25 years. Diabetic neuropathies also appear to be more common in people who have problems controlling their blood glucose, as well as those with high levels of blood fat and blood pressure and those who are overweight.

How can I keep my nervous system healthy?

You can keep your nervous system healthy by taking these steps: 

• Keep your blood glucose numbers as close to your target as possible. If you already have nerve damage, doing so will help you prevent more nerve damage and may decrease pain or other symptoms. Your doctor will work with you to set your target blood glucose numbers and teach you what to do if your numbers are too high or too low.
• Be physically active and take your diabetes medicines, as advised by your doctor.
• If you smoke, stop smoking.
• Tell your doctor right away about any problems you have with
• your hands, arms, feet, or legs
• your stomach, bowels, or bladder
• having sex
• knowing when your blood glucose is too low
• feeling dizzy when you go from lying down to sitting or standing
• Take care of your feet.
• Remind your doctor to check your feet at every office visit. See your doctor at least once a year for a foot exam, or more often if you have foot problems.

What is the treatment for nerve damage from diabetes? 

The treatment for nerve damage from diabetes is based on your symptoms. No treatment can reverse nerve damage; however, it can help you feel better. Your doctor might suggest taking low doses of medicines that both treat other health problems and help the pain of neuropathy.

Some of these medicines include:

• antidepressants
• anticonvulsants, or anti-seizure medicines

Other treatment options include:

• creams or patches on your skin for burning pain
• over-the-counter pain medicines
• acupuncture, a form of pain treatment that uses needles inserted into  your body at certain pressure points
• physical therapy, which helps with muscle weakness and loss of balance
• relaxation exercises, such as yoga
• special shoes to fit softly around sore feet or feet that have changed shape

Your doctor also can prescribe medicines to help with problems caused by nerve damage in other areas of your body, such as poor digestion, dizziness, sexual problems, and lack of bladder control.

Stopping smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages also may help with symptoms.

Published on March 18, 2015.

Source: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. May 21, 2014.