You’ve heard of diabetic neuropathy but did you know there are four different types? Revive Medical Center helps patients with diabetic neuropathy because we understand how painful, uncomfortable, and frustrating this condition can be. In basic terms, diabetic neuropathy means your nerves have been damaged by high blood sugar. Symptoms vary depending on the type of diabetic neuropathy you have.
1. Autonomic Neuropathy
Autonomic neuropathy affects your bladder, eyes, heart, intestines, reproductive organs, and stomach. Symptoms of autonomic neuropathy include an inability to realize you are hypoglycemic; bladder and/or bowel control issues; appetite loss, nausea, and vomiting; difficulty adjusting your eyes from dark to light and vice versa; lack of sexual response despite a desire to have sex.
2. Mononeuropathy
Mononeuropathy is also called focal neuropathy because it generally affects your vision but can also affect your face and hands. Mononeuropathy is either cranial or peripheral. Signs of mononeuropathy include double vision or problems focusing your vision; pain behind one eye only; Bell’s palsy; numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hands and/or in all fingers but your pinkies.
3. Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is also known as distal symmetric peripheral neuropathy. Most diabetics suffer from this neuropathy more than the others on this list. Peripheral neuropathy attacks the feet and legs before it attacks the arms and hands. Signs include numbness to pain and temperatures; burning/tingling sensations; cramps/sharp pains; touch sensitivity; foot problems.
4. Proximal Neuropathy
Also called diabetic amyotrophy, proximal neuropathy can be found in the buttocks, hips, and legs, as well as the abdominal and chest areas. If you do get this neuropathy in the abdomen or chest area, it will likely only be on one sign. Symptoms of proximal neuropathy include pain in the buttocks, hips, or thighs; shrinking and weak thigh muscles; inability to rise when seated; severe stomach pain.
Let Us Help You
Although it might seem as if there’s no hope, diabetic neuropathy can be treated to relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life. If the numbness and tingling or pain interferes with your ability to perform your daily activities, come see us for a treatment plan. Call us if you also suffer from digestive issues, dizziness/fainting, sexual dysfunction, or wounds that refuse to heal.
We are Revive Medical Center and we are located in Lawrenceville, GA. We’d be happy to schedule an appointment for you with one of our diabetic specialists. A customized treatment plan can help you cope with your diabetic neuropathy.
