Diabetic Signs and Symptoms: Risks and Health Concerns of a Diabetic

If you have noticed diabetic signs and symptoms, you have a 60-70% chance that you will be affected by some type of neuropathy. Diabetics can often be prone to developing nerve problems, but risks are higher depending on your age and how long you have been the victim of the disease. Neuropathy can most often be found if you have had the disease for no less than 25 years. Diabetic neuropathy is a nerve disorder caused by diabetes. If you are diabetic, you may develop nerve damage throughout the body without showing any diabetic signs or symptoms at all. Nerve damage could occur in any of your organs, including your heart, digestive tract or sexual organs.

Diabetic Signs and Symptoms

This disease affects the peripheral nerves of your body such as motor neurons, pain and nerve fibers alone. Therefore, it affects all the organs that are innervated. According to the nerve that is affected, diabetic symptoms may also vary and they usually progress slowly over the years. The diabetic signs and symptoms are:

Sensation of numbness and tingling in the extremities
Dyesthesia - loss or decrease in the sensation
Diarrhea
Urinary incontinence - bladder control problems
Imptence
Dizziness
Impaired Speech
Erectile dysfunction
Vision changes
Muscle weakness
 
Treat Your Feet
 
Any diabetic patient with clinical manifestations of these diseases is at risk for foot ulcerations. This can happen simply because if you have neuropathy, you may not have full sensations in your feet which could make them prone to getting injured. Foot ulcerations can also lead to infections which could cause gangrene and possibly amputation if the condition worsens. Therefore, be sure to get educated on how to take care of your feet and learn how to take care of them properly. Your feet should be inspected regularly so you can catch any diabetic signs or symptoms early.

Diabetic Treatment Plan

Once you have confirmed that your diabetic signs have led to diabetes, there are several medications available to deal with diabetic neurpathic pain and discomfort.  Some of these include: tricyclic antidepressants, topical lidocaine, pregabalin, gabapentin, and duloxetine. Other drugs can also be used such as lamotrigine, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, and opiods. Even topical medications can be used for diabetic patients with pain in specific areas. But keep in mind that side effects are common with most drugs if they’re not used correctly, so make sure you follow the prescriptions closely.

Preventing Diabetic Signs and Symptoms

The most efficient way to deal with diabetes is to try to prevent diabetic signs from ever developing. Try to maintain normal blood glucose levels or blood sugar. Aside from that, getting regular exercise and maintaining normal blood pressure can be very effective at preventing diabetes signs. By exercising, you will be able to burn all of the excess sugar in your blood and reduce your risk of diabetic neuropathy. If you drink alcohol or if you’re a smoker, you should stop immediately. Excessive smoking or drinking can lead to neuropathy or even worse. Finally, take the necessary steps to start eating a heatlhy diabetes diet. By following these guidelines, you can prevent diabetic signs from ever becoming a health problem for you.