Diabetic Neuropathy or Nerve Disease in Body
Neuropathy or known as a disease of the nerves in the body that causes disturbing symptoms such as tingling, numbness, burning pain, stabbing pain, sensitivity to touch, impaired coordination, muscle weakness and impaired urination.
This neuropathy can occur in any part of the body, but the cause of this neuropathy depends on the type and location of the affected nerve, namely:
- Metabolic: Diabetes, Deficiency of Vitamin B1 or B12, renal impairment
- Viral or bacterial infections: HIV disease, CMV, Leprosy
- Pinched nerve in hand: Like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) or Aisle Syndrome
- Poisoning: Alcohol
- Drug side effects: Isoniazid
- Inflammation of the nerves: Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS)
The type of neuropathy that often occurs is diabetic neuropathy, which is a nerve disorder that occurs due to diabetes with marked tingling, pain or numbness.
The cause of this diabetic neuropathy is high blood sugar levels that are not controlled, over time this condition will damage the nerves and interfere with the body's function or ability to send signals.
This disease is at risk for people who have gestational diabetes during pregnancy, people who have diabetes with kidney problems, people with diabetes who continue to smoke, and have an ideal body weight, people with diabetes who do not control blood sugar levels in their bodies properly , such as a poor diet or not following medication as directed by a doctor.
Prevention of diabetic neuropathy is very important because it manages blood glucose and cholesterol levels. If you have this disease you need to take steps to help prevent diabetes-related nerve damage:
- Quit smoking
- Follow the recommended healthy diet
- Be physically active
- Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages
- Take diabetes medication and other medications prescribed by the doctor
It is necessary to manage the condition of diabetes by managing blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body weight so that nerve damage does not get worse.
Foot care is also important for all diabetes, especially for people with diabetic neuropathy, such as; clean your feet every day, apply moisturizer/lotion (body lotion) to dry areas of your feet, clip your toenails straight following the normal shape of your toes, wear footwear, wear good shoes or sandals, check your shoes before wearing them, if there are any wounds small treat the wound and cover it with a clean cloth or gauze, checking for signs of inflammation.
Friends of Hermina, if you need more detailed information to prevent this disease, you can consult a neurologist / neurologist at Hermina Periuk Hospital, Tangerang.