Diabetic neuropathy is one of the complications of diabetes, causing nerve damage that may affect sensation, muscle movement, or body functions. Many people with diabetic neuropathy also suffer from chronic pain. The team of board-certified anesthesiology and pain management physicians at AABP Integrative Pain Care, with offices in the Bensonhurst neighborhood in Brooklyn, and White Plains, New York, specializes in treating diabetic neuropathy pain. Call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage from diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body manages glucose, the primary energy source for all the cells in your body.
People with diabetes have higher than normal blood glucose levels because of problems producing insulin, the hormone that gets glucose from the blood into the cells.
Over time, too much glucose in the blood damages the blood vessels, organs, and tissues, including the nerves. Your risk of developing diabetic neuropathy increases the longer you have diabetes.
Diabetic neuropathy may affect any nerve. Your symptoms may help determine the type of diabetic neuropathy you have.
These types include:
Focal neuropathy is a type of diabetic neuropathy that only affects one nerve at a time, usually the nerves in the chest, causing numbness or chest pain.
Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage in the feet, legs, hands, or arms.
The autonomic nerves control many vital body functions, like digestion, heart rate, and blood pressure. Autonomic neuropathy damages these nerves, which may cause problems with digestion, blood pressure, or heart rate.
Proximal neuropathy is a rare type of diabetic neuropathy that causes nerve damage in the hips, buttocks, or thighs. This type of nerve damage is disabling.
When you visit AABP Integrative Pain Care for a diabetic neuropathy consultation, you can expect a patient-centered exam.
Your provider asks detailed questions about your symptoms, including location, type, and severity of your pain. They review your medical history, the types of medications and supplements you take, and review your blood glucose readings.
Your provider also asks about your usual diet and activities and then does a physical examination.
The AABP Integrative Pain Care team customizes your pain management treatment plan for your diabetic neuropathy based on neuropathy type, severity of symptoms, and medical history.
Your plan may include:
The team works closely with you, developing a plan that provides the most relief from your pain and improves your quality of life.
For help managing your diabetic neuropathy pain, call AABP Integrative Pain Care or schedule an appointment at the office nearest you online today.