Diabetic Neuropathy - Three Tests You Can Have

Many secondary diseases can develop from diabetes. One example is nerve disease or damage. This can be caused by a persons maintaining high blood sugar levels for ten years or more. Nerve damage can cause pain and feelings like electric shocks in the toes, and less commonly in the fingers. Another sign of nerve disease is loss of sensation in the toes and the soles of the feet. If nerve disease is determined to have its root in diabetes, it is called diabetic neuropathy.

One way that a nerve disorder can be diagnosed is to test a persons nerve conduction velocity (NCV). Nerve conduction velocity refers to the speed at which nervous impulses travel along a nerve fiber. If this speed is severely slowed, it means that a nerve disorder exists. Even though a persons body is experiencing slow NCV, the person may not experience any symptoms at all, for a long time. It is therefore useful to test the NCV of diabetics; neuropathy may be diagnosed in individuals who are not yet showing any signs of nerve damage. There are a few medications available to treat neuropathy, and with early diagnosis, patients can be treated so that the nerve symptoms improve.

Diabetic neuropathy occurs most frequently in persons older than 40. In addition, people who are taller than average suffer from this condition much more often than shorter people. This may be because those who are taller have longer nerve fibers, with more opportunity for damage. One more warning: if you drink alcohol, be advised that even a small amount, of any type at all, can increase and worsen the symptoms of your neuropathy.

Testing Your Nerve Function

Your doctor can test your nerve function to discover whether you have diabetic neuropathy. In the body, different nerve fibers are responsible for varying kinds of sensation (temperature, touch, light, and vibration). A doctor can test the connections between your nerves and those sensations, and then analyze his findings.

1. Testing by Vibration: A tuning fork is used in vibration testing. Doctors like to use vibration testing to discover any abnormalities of larger nerve fibers in the body.

2. Testing by Temperature: The importance of temperature testing is that it can determine whether the body's smaller nerve fibers are intact. It is vital to know the status of the small fibers, because if these are damaged, you may lose your ability to feel sensations of extremely hot temperatures (e.g., boiling water).

3. Testing by Light Touch: Doctors use a filament tool to touch the skin very lightly. Large nerve fibers in the body can sense anything touching the skin, and send signals to the brain that we're having a sensation. The filament tool can determine if any large fibers are damaged, and if so, which. Someone without any nerve damage who is in good health can feel a filament tool with only one gram of force used.

Learn the facts about Diabetes Neuropathy. Looking for Diabetic Recipes?

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Three Common Complications of Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition that is characterized by the disruption in the way that the body processes carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are broken down from complex to simple sugars, called glucose. When glucose levels remain too high in the body, it can cause malfunction of multiple important processes. These complications can be devastating!

Three common complications of diabetes are:

1. Diabetic Nephropathy: Diabetic nephropathy means that the kidneys are damaged by high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and a top cause of renal transplant and dialysis. The best way to prevent kidney failure is to maintain good sugar control and to complete routine testing. Your doctor should check your kidney function using both urine and blood tests every year.

2. Diabetic Neuropathy: Diabetic neuropathy is a condition that is characterized by damage to the nerve cells due to high glucose levels. When these levels are high the nerves that are responsible for sensation and regulation of certain body processes are affected and damaged. The most commonly affected nerves are the nerves that supply the hands and feet. This condition is called peripheral neuropathy, which is a condition that results in loss of sensation in the hands and feet. Patients that have neuropathy can suffer from difficult regulating heart rate, temperature and difficulties with sensation. Diabetic neuropathy contributes to foot complications that can lead to infection and amputations.

3. Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy means that there is damage to the retina of the eyes due to persistently elevated blood sugar levels. Diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindness. For this reason, it is important that all patients with diabetes be screened by an ophthalmologist annually. Type 2 diabetics should start their exams within the first year of diagnosis while type 1 diabetics can wait a few years before they have their first eye exam.

The progression of all of these conditions can be slowed through strict blood sugar control. To achieve good blood glucose levels the patient should follow his diabetic diet, stick to his prescribed medications and exercise. Patients that work hard to improve their sugars and monitor their progress will have the best results and fewest complications. It is very important that all patients with diabetes see their doctor routinely and complete the necessary screening tests. Early detection, coupled with good sugar control is truly one of the key components to a long life with this condition that does not have to result in these tragic complications

Unfortunately there is no diabetes cure but excellent blood glucose control is a great way to reduce your risks of complications from diabetes.

If you suffer from any of these conditions or need orthopedic shoes for diabetics check out our site at knowyoursugar.com for more information. Visit often as we expand our website to provide you with more information about diabetes and more!

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.