Managing neuropathy may be tricky — but not impossible. To make the necessary lifestyle changes, you just have to be familiar with what exactly causes neuropathy.
We’ve all got that one friend who’s easily the life of every party.
David is that friend for me. From his 6’5” build, his laugh, his personality, all the way to those motorcycles he loved riding — everything about David was big.
He was fully prepared to live life to the fullest until well into his senior years.
But diabetes had other plans. It struck David in his mid-30s and quickly became difficult to manage.
Once neuropathy kicked in and took complete control over his lower extremities, his pain skyrocketed. He wore shorts all year round, even in the winter, since his legs felt as if they had been burned and couldn’t take the lightest touch of a sheet, much less the touch of pants.
From being the life of the party, he became someone who couldn’t even muster enough energy and wellness to make it to show up to parties.
David couldn’t even get up on the motorcycle he loved so much. Worse, he started missing out on his nieces’ and nephews’ ball games, birthday parties, and recitals — all on account of his debilitating pain.
The good news is that all is not lost for David or anyone else living with neuropathy.
So if you’re suffering from unusual tingling or pain in your extremities, keep reading. In this article, we’ll get to the bottom of neuropathy, what causes it, and what you can do to limit its effect on your life.
What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage brought about by diabetes.
Let me explain how it causes pain.
Our nerves are responsible for sending signals between our brains and bodies. So when you have nerve damage, you will find it hard to control your muscles. For example…
You may fall a lot because of uncontrollable shaking in your knees or legs.
You may be in bed tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep off the pain in your feet.
Or perhaps, you may suffer from crippling pain, day in and day out.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) identifies four different kinds of neuropathy based on how it affects the body:
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Peripheral neuropathy
The most common type is peripheral neuropathy, which typically affects the lower extremities, and in some cases, including the upper limbs. This can manifest through involuntary movements in the arms or legs.
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Autonomic neuropathy
We also have autonomic neuropathy, characterized by damage to the nerves that control the internal organs. This usually leads to irregularities in blood pressure and heart rate, along with other issues with the digestive system, sex organs, eyes, and even sweat glands.
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Focus neuropathies
Focal neuropathies include all conditions that see damage to a single nerve, usually in the leg, torso, hand, or head. An example of this would be a carpal tunnel.
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Proximal neuropathy
Proximal neuropathy, the rarest and most crippling kind, is a type of nerve damage on the hip, buttock, or thigh, which usually spreads to one entire side of the body and rarely affects the other. It is characterized by intense pain and, in some cases, extreme weight loss.
Since neuropathy is a complication of diabetes, managing your blood glucose levels is an important part of preventing it, along with keeping your blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol levels in check.
But one important thing to note is that not all diabetics end up developing neuropathy.
What Are the Causes of Diabetic Neuropathy?
The first thing you have to know is that the exact cause of each neuropathy type is unknown. However, experts have identified several risk factors that can make you more susceptible to nerve damage.
Health-related risk factors include:
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Consistently high blood sugar: Generally, leaving your blood sugar levels uncontrolled will make you vulnerable to all sorts of diabetes complications, like neuropathy.
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Kidney disease: According to the Mayo Clinic, diabetes can cause damage to the kidneys. This leads to high toxins in the blood, which in turn increases the risk for nerve damage.
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Obesity/being overweight: Another key risk factor for developing diabetic neuropathy is having an above-normal BMI.
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Vitamin B deficiency: A study by the Harvard University Medical School found that Vitamin B12 deficiency causes damage to the surrounding sheath that protects your nerves, causing them to malfunction.
There are also some lifestyle factors, like the following:
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Smoking: There is no shortage of negative health effects that come from smoking, but it is especially bad for you if you are already suffering from neuropathy.
Smoking can cause damage to the blood vessels, messing up your blood circulation. This means your cells won’t be getting enough of what they need to stay healthy. This causes issues with your bodily functions, including your peripheral nerves.
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Alcohol consumption: As pointed out by Diabetes.co.uk, you need to be extra careful with alcohol if you have diabetes.
Not only does drinking alcohol cause spikes in blood pressure — it also adds unnecessary calories to your system, which can now lead to weight gain, another key risk to developing neuropathy.
Overall, the usual effects of too much drinking are exacerbated in the body of someone who has diabetes and neuropathy.
It appears that a combination of the risk factors listed above increases the risk of diabetic people developing neuropathy.
There is no single factor that causes the various types of neuropathy discussed above.
As my friend David eventually found out, there is also no single treatment plan that made the pain manageable. In fact, he said it took months of experimentation to find a medication and lifestyle regimen that helped.
Regain Control Over Your Life by Keeping Nerve Pain at Bay
I am glad to report that before David lost his battle with heart failure, he was able to regain control of his life.
He got back up on his vintage bike.
He started showing up again to his nieces’ and nephews’ big days.
He managed his pain well and refused to let it define him or dictate how the rest of his life went.
He took control of his pain, in effect taking back control over his life.
And so can you.
With the help of Nervitalize, you can keep nerve pain at bay and continue living life to the fullest. To learn more about this all-natural supplement, check out Nervitalize on our site today.
Resources:
https://www.pathways.health/navigating-neuropathy-a-chronic-pain-success-story/
https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/diabetic-neuropathy#causes
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20371580
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/diabetes-neuropathy.html
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-b12-deficiency-can-be-sneaky-harmful-201301105780