Diabetic neuropathy can affect the nerves of the whole body so problems can appear in virtually all organs.Within diabetic neuropathy, it is possible to differentiate: peripheral, autonomous, focal and proximal neuropathy.
Diabetic neuropathy, a type of painful neuropathy due to the nerve injury caused by diabetes, has been the main theme of the health classroom that has taken place in the auditorium of the Vithas Castellón hospital and organized by the Vithas Foundation.The talk has been taught by Dr. Susana Casaña of the Neurophysiology Unit and Antonio Segarra, Podoactiva Podus, Biomechanics Unit of the Vithas Castellón Hospital.The presentation of the act has been in charge of Maria Teresa Marí Herrero, president of the Association of Diabetics of Castellón (Adicas).
Long -term diabetes complications are usually associated with high blood sugar concentrations for a long period of time.They are usually silently developed gradually, and can affect different parts of the body.According to the Spanish pain society, 1 in 4 people with diabetes will end up developing a painful neuropathy throughout their lives, which means that in Spain more than 500,000 people suffer from it.The reason why neuropathies develop in diabetic people is because fluctuations in blood glucose levels end by destroying small blood vessels that nourish the nerves.This causes nerve endings to suffer lack of oxygen and nutrients.
As explained by Dr. Susana Casaña, a clinical neurophysiologist of the Vithas Castellón hospital, “Diabetic neuropathy can affect the nerves of the whole body so that problems can appear in virtually all organs, including the digestive system, urinary, cardiovascularAnd in the view, "and adds," when diabetic neuropathy is accompanied by pain is because it affects the nerves that transmit sensations, such as touch, cold, heat or pain.When the nerves are damaged, the perception of these signals is affected ”
The damage can occur in any organ or tissue, but the most frequent are in the skin, the digestive system, the heart and the sexual organs.Depending on the affected area, the consequences will vary from one patient to another.Dr. Casaña has differentiated within the diabetic neuropathy four types: peripheral, autonomous, focal and proximal neuropathy.
“Peripheral neuropathy, -affirmed the specialist in neurophysiology -generally affects first at the feet, legs and latest to the hands, and normally involves a sensation of ardor, tingling or acorchening, numbness, pain and weakness.Instead, autonomic neuropathy is nerve damage that controls internal organs and usually manifest problems with heart rate and blood pressure, digestive and urinary system. ”
Antonio Segarra's intervention has focused on the care of the diabetic foot, who has indicated that “diabetes is the most frequent cause of lower limb amputation in developed countries and that the probability of suffering an amputation is 15 times greater in aDiabetic, being 85 % of the amputations predicted by an ulcer in the foot "and has made special emphasis on" paying attention to medical indications: glycemic control (eating well and practicing sports) and periodically visiting the doctor and the podiatrist. "
On the other hand, focal neuropathies are conditions in which individual nerves are generally damaged whose symptoms can be carpal tunnel syndrome or catering of the ulnar nerve or peroneo."These focal neuropathies can often affect the hand, leg or foot," said theDr. Casaña.
The least frequent is proximal neuropathy that affects the nerves of the hip, buttock or thigh, whose symptoms are usually sudden and strong pain in these parts of the body, weakness in legs, loss of muscle tissue and loss of strength.
Prevention
The best treatment for diabetic neuropathy is prevention.Maintaining blood glucose levels is essential to prevent complications from appearing."For this, it is necessary to carefully and balanced food, reduce simple sugars in the diet, maintain adequate levels of blood pressure, exercise a physically active lifestyle and avoid alcohol and tobacco," both specialists have concluded.
