Opioids may offer a better solution for intercurrent pain (a type that worsens suddenly for no apparent reason) than over-the-counter medications. There are many treatments available to alleviate symptoms caused by neuropathy. Diabetes-related neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that affects people with diabetes. It occurs when the blood sugar level is high during an extended period.
The most common type of diabetes-related neuropathy affects the legs and feet. There is no cure for diabetes-related neuropathy. You can control nerve pain with medication, exercise, and proper nutrition. It affects the nerves that transmit messages of contact, temperature, pain and other sensations from the skin, bones and muscles to the brain. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, don't work well for peripheral neuropathy and other types of nerve pain.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), keeping blood sugar levels close to the target range can help slow the progression of nerve damage. You're more likely to develop diabetes-related neuropathy if you have diabetes that isn't well controlled. Approximately 25% of people with diabetic neuropathy experience pain that can interfere with your daily functioning and your sleep. Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type of neuropathy and is damage to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.
For more information on peripheral neuropathy, including treatment and symptoms, visit the NHS website. Medications control nerve cells in the brain and other parts of the body, such as the legs and arms, that transmit pain. The main danger of sensory neuropathy for people with diabetes is a loss of feeling in the feet, especially if you don't realize that this has happened. However, prolonged periods of high blood sugar and fat levels can damage nerves and prevent them from working properly.
Talk to your health care team that specializes in diabetes for advice if you think you are developing any signs of neuropathy. You can prevent diabetes-related neuropathy from worsening and you can reverse nerve damage by controlling your blood glucose very well, but the process is very slow. Because these medications don't provide enough pain relief and can have side effects, some doctors may not recommend this type of medication for diabetic neuropathy. People with diabetes are more likely to be hospitalized with a foot ulcer than with any other complication of diabetes.
However, many treatments can help reduce the discomfort and pain caused by diabetic neuropathy, and your doctor can help you select the one that best suits your needs. People can take several steps at home to ease the pain and discomfort of diabetic neuropathy, a possible complication of diabetes.
