Diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage affects 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes. The highest rates of neuropathy are found in those that have had diabetes for a long period of time and in those with poor glucose control. High concentrations of glucose in the blood stream when metabolized lead to an accumulation of sorbitol. Sorbitol build up causes the cells to swell and results in damage to body nerves and tissues. In addition restricted or impaired blood flow due to other complications of diabetes is a contributing factor. There are four categories of diabetic neuropathy.
1. Peripheral Neuropathy: The most common and most widely recognized form of neuropathy consists of pain, tingling or numbness in the extremities. The toes, feet, hands, arms and fingers are affected. The number one cause of non-traumatic amputation is caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy. A loss of sensation caused by neuropathy can allow a blister or sore to remain unnoticed or treated. If this happens an infection left untreated can lead to gangue green and amputation.
2. Autonomic Neuropathy: Most people are unaware of this form unless they have been diagnosed. It affects a wide variety of nerves relating to the heart, respiratory function and other internal organs. Nerve damage to the cardiovascular system can occur and interfere with the body's ability to regulate heart rate and blood pressure. Another dangerous autonomic neuropathy gastro paresis can also occur. Gastro paresis causes an impaired or slow emptying of the stomach that causes extreme difficulty in the proper management of blood sugars.
3. Proximal Neuropathy: Most common in older adults with type 2 diabetes. Proximal neuropathy causes weakness and pain in the legs and hips and is usually confined to one side of the body.
4. Focal Neuropathy: Though it does not cause long terms nerve damage focal neuropathy is painful and can strike rapidly. It usually affects specific nerves in the head, torso or leg. Some of the most common symptoms are Bell's palsy (paralysis on one side of the face), the inability to focus the eyes and chest or abdominal pain that can mimic symptoms of a heat attack.
The following yoga practices offer a synergy of techniques to address the root causes of diabetic neuropathy.
A. Yoga Asana: Exercise is essential for the proper management of blood glucose levels as it acts like insulin helping to move glucose into the muscles. Asana offers some other distinct advantages over other forms of exercise. Yoga postures can be modified to accommodate individuals with diabetic complications. Low or no impact variations can be taught to provide a complete, safe work out. In addition many yoga postures in their design employ what is called a tourniquet effect in the body. Blood is "dammed" off for a short period of time while the posture is held in a static position. When the posture is released the blood rushes back into the area previously dammed off. The returned blood rushes back in with a high pressure that enhances deep penetration and opening of the capillaries. Because impaired blood flow to the peripheral extremities is a contributing factor to neuropathy, this tourniquet effect of asana provides a great healing benefit to the circulatory system.
B. Meditation: Stress causes a rise in blood sugars! High blood sugars are the main cause of diabetic neuropathy so it is a necessity to establish a meditation practice to keep the stress (and high blood sugars) at bay.
C. Mindfulness: Responsible and mindful food choices that will support healthy blood sugar levels. There is no health substitute for mindful self care when it comes to diet.
Remember diabetic neuropathy in most cases will not manifest symptomatically until the root causes have been left untreated for a long period of time. So don't wait, get busy and choose health today!
Bradley Kapture, author, "The Sounds of Silence" http://yoga4diabetes.com/?page_id=14 and lecturer, is the founder of yoga4diabetes. Kapture is an expert in asana, mantra and meditation practices. In 2004 a turn in life circumstances forced him to close his yoga studios, leave his yoga practice and go to work in the world of corporate sales. After just 3 years he found himself overweight, filled with anxiety and with type 2 diabetes. He refused standard drug treatment and instead returned to yoga and developed a yoga method to address the causes of type 2 diabetes and to heal his body.
Within just three months his blood sugars had returned to normal levels. His doctor responded, "I agree with you on your diabetes control; the HGA1C is well below target at 6.5 so keep doing what you're doing. It's really a tremendous achievement to go from 7.7 to 6.5 in such a short time period without medication." These results inspired him to share his yoga method and help others with diabetes reduce or eliminate dependence on medication. For more information go to http://yoga4diabetes.com/
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