Weekly Wellness News

November 6, 2006

Feature: Neuropathy

Diabetes is a serious problem in developed countries. In past issues, I've explored some of the causes and risk factors; now I'd like to share more about one of the biggest challenges many diabetics face: neuropathy.

Neuropathy is most commonly referring to a deterioration of the axons of the nerves in the body, causing pain and numbness in the limbs and extremities. This pain is usually felt in the feet and legs (since these are the longest nerves, they are affected more quickly than the rest). While numbness is easy to imagine, the pain that many people suffering from neuropathy experience is not: nerves signaling normally unrelated sensations will fire together, resulting in sensations such as the foot feeling hot, cold, burning, and impacted simultaneously. These sensations may come and go or may be consistently felt, chronically.

While diabetes is the most common cause (by far) of neuropathy, other causes exist. These include trauma, surgery (as a side-effect), chemotherapy, neurotoxins, and herpes; however, it is not common in these cases.

Treatment for neuropathy is inconsistent and unreliable. The most common treatments are antidepressants for the burning pains and anticonvulsants for the shock-like pains. However, these medications all carry side-effects, especially the antidepressants, and the results are not guaranteed. As such, antidepressants are being used less and less, and new drugs are being tested to replace them. What works for one patient won't necessarily work for the next, and so finding effective treatments is still elusive.

Being diagnosed with diabetes is serious, and neuropathy is a big part of why it's such a big deal. And it can be avoided by most people through attention to what you eat and how you live. Don't wait until you're struggling with pain to clean up your diet.

Resources:

• Neuropathy - Symptoms, Causes, Treatments [treatment-info.org]
• Diabetic neuropathy [en.wikipedia.org]
• New Insights Into Diabetic Polyneuropathy [jama.ama-assn.org]
• Neuropathy in Diabetes [diabetes-in-america.s-3.com]

Other news

• Yes, a boring job is bad for you: A Sound Body, a Healthy Mind [healthday.com]
• Really, honey, I'm asleep, just let me finish: ‘Sexsomniacs’ puzzle medical researchers [msnbc.msn.com]
• Really, honey, it helps me see better, just let me finish: Staying active helps protect your eyesight [msnbc.msn.com]

From the editor

Thanks to one of my readers for the topic for this week! I appreciate both the suggestion and the chance to test the feedback system.

And now I also understand what a friend of mine was describing to me last year; she had this and didn't know what to do about the pain. I wish there was more I could do for her.

I was asked recently if readers can send these issues on to others: yes! Please forward this (or any) issue to your friends; if you are finding this interesting and helpful, others will, too. I ask only that you forward this in its entirety; do not cut and paste pieces of the issue but rather send the entire thing. Thank you for helping me share these messages!

Healthy thoughts,
Jeff

Your feedback is always welcome!

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Copyright 2006, Jeffrey Eliasen.
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