Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

The answer is A.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a nerve disorder specifically of the arms, hands, legs, and feet, including your toes. Up to 70 percent of people with diabetes experience some form of DPN. The risks go up with age and the amount of time you have had diabetes.

There is a form of neuropathy that affects the heart and other internal systems: autonomic neuropathy. Get more information about this form of neuropathy and others, and be sure to discuss the information with your doctor.

The answer is false.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy equally affects people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is not about diabetes type. It is about diabetes control.

The answer is all of the above.

In addition, you may experience the more common tingling or burning sensation. Weight loss and depression are not physical results of the DPN, but sometimes accompany it. Conversely, you may not experience any of these symptoms at all! Your best bet at staying ahead of this particular complication is to visit your doctor regularly and to keep your blood sugar levels in the safe zone as often as possible.

The answer is false.

In reality, a tingling/pain sensation could mean anything. Maybe you slept on a limb the wrong way, or sat on your leg too long. You may have been in the cold for a while, and you’re now regaining feeling—or it could, in fact, be diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The point is, this sensation is often experienced by people with and without diabetes. If you have diabetes, it is best not to ignore the slightest change in your body, especially if you have had diabetes for a long time. Early diagnosis means a better chance of finding treatment that will help keep the complication at bay, or keep it from getting worse, thereby giving you more years of optimal health.

The answer is false.

Even without symptoms, diabetic peripheral neuropathy CAN be diagnosed. During a physical exam, your doctor may check your blood pressure, heart rate, muscle strength, reflexes, and sensitivity to position changes, vibration, temperature, or light touch. There are other tests, too.

The answer is C.

Uncontrolled blood glucose is the main culprit behind diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Other causes include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and alcohol use. The best thing you can do is keep your blood glucose levels in check, and get regular checkups.

The answer is true.

Peripheral neuropathy in the feet can lead to deformities of the feet. Left unchecked, peripheral neuropathy can lead to a terrible game of dominoes.

DPN may cause muscle weakness and loss of reflexes, especially at the ankle, which can affect how a person walks. As a result, foot deformities, such as hammertoes and Charcot foot, may occur. These and other foot conditions numb or affect sensation in the feet, and that can hinder a person’s abilities to notice blisters and sores as they occur. Blisters and sores may appear on numb areas of the foot, because pressure or injury goes unnoticed. Unnoticed and untreated injuries can mean infection, which may spread to the bone. This can lead to amputation. Many such amputations are preventable if minor problems are caught and treated in time, according to the NIDDK.

What should you do? Stay vigilant. Keep your blood sugar in check, and don’t just schedule regular doctor visits—go to them, too! Share your slightest concerns with your doctor, and save your limbs.

The answer is true.

Antidepressants can help both pain and depression. It is not clear exactly how antidepressants help to relieve pain, but it is thought to be related to their effect on the chemical substances (hormones) that naturally occur in the brain and spinal cord.

The answer is false.

There are other treatment options today! However, not all treatments are available to all people. Want to know what else can be done? See the next question!

The answer is D.

According to the NIDDK:
Treatments that are applied to the skin—typically to the feet—include capsaicin cream and lidocaine patches (Lidoderm, Lidopain). Studies suggest that nitrate sprays or patches for the feet may relieve pain. Studies of alpha-lipoic acid, an antioxidant, and evening primrose oil have shown that they can help relieve symptoms, and may improve nerve function.

A device called a bed cradle can keep sheets and blankets from touching sensitive feet and legs. Acupuncture, biofeedback, or physical therapy can help relieve pain in some people, as can surgery. Treatments that involve electrical nerve stimulation, magnetic therapy, and laser or light therapy may be helpful, but need further study. Researchers are also studying several new therapies in clinical trials.

B vitamins, which are needed for healthy nerve function, are also commonly used to help reduce pain and other symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Too much vitamin B6, however, can cause nerve damage, according to the National Institutes of Health. More research is needed to confirm which dietary supplements are beneficial for DPN, and at what doses.

Updated 10/16.