[contentuser]

Diabetic Neuropathy

Neuropathy is a serious consequence of diabetes. The best way to prevent it is to maintain control of your blood glucose levels. Research shows that tight blood glucose control decreases the risk of diabetic nerve damage by as much as 60%. Once you have neuropathy however, tight glucose control will do little to cure your symptoms.

About 60–70% of people with diabetes develop neuropathy although they may not notice any symptoms at first. Diabetes can cause three ...Read the full article

[shortaphrodite]

This article is very good at explaining the ins and outs of diabetic neuropathy. I would like to point out that it is one of the hardest conditions to treat, as the treatment of chronic pain is woefully lacking, at least here in NZ. I had the experience of being told not to come to hospital when I was in pain and yet the pain clinic dr, AT THE HOSPITAL, told me to go to the emergency room.

Chronic pain waits for NO ONE. It is painful in a hold-your-breath-and-try-not-to-scream way. I was asked if I'd tried Panadol. At this point I was in tears. Did they really think that I rang 111 for the ambulance, was tachycardic and hypertensive if bloody Panadol worked??? I was incredulous and very distressed. No one should have to endure that. I have been put on a waiting list for the pain clinic. Yay. The neuropathy might have gone by the time I get there. Last time it lasted for 9 months. I almost ended up in a wheelchair. I'm just really angry and dismayed. So much for modern medicine......