If you have diabetes, chances are good that you already have some form of nerve pain or nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy. People with diabetes have about a 60% chance of getting neuropathy of any kind, It’s probably an equal risk of getting neuropathy with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, experts say.
If have tingling, pain or numbness in the feet and hands—common signs of diabetic nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy. Or have damage to the nerves that signals to your heart, stomach, bladder or sex organs called autonomic neuropathy. Nerve damage can also be silent, meaning no symptoms at all.
Sometimes. nerve damage starts even before a person is diagnosed with diabetes. Even somebody with prediabetes may have neuropathy. Pre-diabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are abnormally high, but not high enough to qualify as diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
The good news, many of the risk factors for diabetic neuropathy are under your control. So while one may not be able to prevent nerve pain and damage completely, one may be able to help slow it down. One can reduce the risk of nerve damage and other diabetes complications by keeping the blood sugar under tight control. A healthy lifestyle helps lower the risk of heart disease, stroke and other diabetes complications.
Are you at risk for diabetic neuropathy?
1.You have high blood sugar- the risk those who have trouble controlling their blood sugar. Sometimes glucose control is about mind over matter, you may simply need a little help staying motivated, sticking to exercise program or learning how to prepare more varied tasty healthy meals. But if you’re doing everything right and still have glucose levels, one need to change the plan and start medications to help better manage your blood sugars.
2.You’ve had diabetes before many years-the risk nerve pain and damage is more common in people who had diabetes for more than 25 years. Do your best to monitor your blood sugar at home as often as advised by the doctor. Have the A1c test, a blood test that measures the average amount of blood glucose over the previous 2 to 3 months, at least twice a year.
3.You’re overweight-the risk is double trouble for people with diabetes. It puts at higher risk of diabetic nerve damage, and higher risk of deadly diabetes complications like heart attacks and stroke. Losing weight is hard for everyone, since meals are loaded with emotional meaning well being satisfaction or frustration. So if overweight, be patient but consistent with yourself. Losing even a few extra pounds can be a big boost to one’s health. A balance diet and exercise plan designed for slow, safe weight loss can control this risk. And losing weight means less pressure on those tender feet if there’s already a diabetic nerve pain.
4.You’re over 40- the risk diabetic nerve damage is more common in people over 40. While one can’t turn the clock, one can recommit to a healthy lifestyle each year. Try one, fun new thing to help manage the diabetes every year, like finding a new diabetes cookbook or joining a walking or swimming group, to keep motivated. If you’re in a relationship tell your partner or spouse that your diabetes friendly lifestyle can help your sweetheart feel young, healthy and energized too. Every little bit helps when it comes to diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes
5. You’re off target with your blood fats-the risk the wrong levels of fats in the blood put at higher risk of diabetic neuropathy. Often people with diabetes have too low level of HDL (good cholesterol) and too high levels of the blood fat called triglycerides. To make the matter worse, the LDL (bad cholesterol) makes them more likely to have a heart attack. A grim truth 66% of people with diabetes will die of a heart attack or stroke, according to the American Diabetes Association.
If not sure, have the cholesterol checked at least once a year and aim for these target levels
LDL (bad cholesterol) below 100 mg/dl
HDL (good cholesterol) above 40 mg/dl for men above 50 for women
Triglycerides below 150 mg/dl
If the target levels are different, given your medication attention.
6.You have high blood pressure- the risk of high blood pressure it increases the risk of diabetic neuropathy. As many as two out of three adults with diabetes have high blood pressure, increasing their risk of heart disease and stroke. Some people can manage high blood pressure with diabetes with diet and exercise alone, other need medication. For everyone with diabetes, keeping the blood pressure lower than 130/80.This goal is lower than for the general population. Since diabetic people have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke..If one cannot keep the blood pressure at this target with exercise and healthy eating. Talk to your doctor for better blood pressure control
7.You smoke- the risk smokers are at greater risk of nerve damage from diabetes. Smoking has been linked to heart disease. You can really quit even if one have been a longtime smoker. And it’s never too late. Even if one smoked for years, it’ll be good for the world to quit. Set a quit date, commit yourself, and talk to your doctor.
8.You drink a lot of alcohol-the risk alcohol goes right into the bloodstream and can spike the blood sugar the same way high sugar foods like desserts do. Drinking can also swerve off your meal plan and eat foods that will wreck the blood sugars. Alcohol blocks how well the liver clears fat from the blood and can raise the level of unhealthy blood fats called trigycelrides-even with a little as two ounce glasses of wine a week.
The American Diabetic Association advice cutting down on drinking to help prevent or lat least control diabetic nerve damage. If one has already nerve pain, ask your doctor whether one should have any alcohol at all. There isn’t any proven safe amount to drink so if you’re living with diabetes, decide to cut our drinking entirely.
That’s the six of the eight risk factors for diabetic neuropathy that are under your control. Not bad. Now if medicine can just come up with a cure for aging…..
