diabetes symptoms and treatment

 Diabetic neuropathy is a disorder of the nerves caused by high levels of sugars in the blood.  For people with Diabetes Symptoms and Treatment, this condition can, over time, develop into nerve and tissue damage throughout the body, including the peripheral nerves, the heart, the digestive system, the kidneys, and the reproductive system. Different types of diabetic neuropathies exist, including peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, proximal neuropathy, and focal neuropathy.

Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors

Diabetic neuropathy not only results from high blood sugar levels, but can also be caused by autoimmune deficiency, neurovascular factors (such as ischemia), or decreased blood supply to the nerves.  Complementary factors, such as smoking, alcohol use, and medications, can precipitate the condition.  Symptoms include pain, numbness, burning, and tingling in the toes, feet, legs, arms, hands, and fingertips.

In addition, other common symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, weakness, dizziness, insomnia, depression, anxiety, weight loss, problems with urination (urinary incontinence or loss of bladder control), erectile dysfunction, impotence, vision change, fasciculation, muscle weakness, and difficulty standing, walking, or bearing weight. 

Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Until now, diabetic neuropathy treatment has been oriented toward pain relief through the use of conventional approaches, such as the use of medications like gabapentin, exercise, and other adjunctive treatment measures, but these approaches have not been effective in treating it. 

Departing from traditional methods, I have achieved great success in treating diabetic neuropathy with a combination of sympathetic nerve blocks, trigger point injections, antidepressants, and narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics.  My approach to treating diabetic neuropathy is based on increasing blood supply to the nerves through the use of sympathetic nerve blocks and daily use of scientific meditation therapy.  Through Bi-Directional Psychosomatic Autonomic Feedback, meditation therapy reverses damage done to the nerves caused by ischemia and restores circulation by establishing a balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system.  It also helps normalize the levels of various neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, nor-epinephrine, acetylcholine, dopamine, and glutamate, among others.

Regular use of sympathetic nerve blocks, Autonomic Therapy, antidepressants, analgesics, physical rehabilitation, and psychotherapy has led to incredibly positive results.  Studies have shown that these approaches not only decrease pain, but also restore lost bodily functions and lower dependence on various anti-diabetic medications, oral as well as parenteral.

Three case histories show the promise and efficacy of my treatments.

When Aaron first came to see me, she suffered from burning feet and was in such great pain that she couldn’t even walk.  “Pitiful” is the way she described herself.  Her little brother had to wheel her into my office in a wheelchair. 

“I looked a mess because I hadn’t had my hair done in three months,” Aaron recalled, “and my clothes didn’t fit because I had lost a lot of weight.  I hadn’t slept in almost three months.  Can you imagine not sleeping for that long?  It wasn’t a pretty sight at all.”

Aaron’s body had shut down because she wasn’t taking care of her diabetes. 

“Imagine the pain from a Charlie Horse magnified 20 times,” she recalls.  “Not a good feeling at all.  I never thought I would ever get back to normal because I didn’t see light at the end of the tunnel.  My days got longer and longer, and the pain got worse and worse.”

I diagnosed Aaron’s condition as diabetic neuropathy and treated her with nerve blocks, trigger point injections, and medication.  In addition, she meditated for 20 minutes three or four times a day, exercised regularly, and ate properly.  Soon she was able to cut her insulin intake by one third and regained her health.

Walter, 67, started experiencing pain from arthritis in his thirties.  He then began suffering from Type-II diabetes.  He started taking medication for both conditions.

About 15 years ago, the arthritis spread to Walter’s knees and both knees had to be replaced.  As a result of the diabetes, he developed neuropathy in both feet. 

“The pain was excruciating,” Walter recalls.  “My feet felt like blocks of wood.  Doctors told me that there was nothing they could do.  I took pain-killing medicines, such as Oxycodone, Lyrica, Cymbalta, etc.  Most of these medications only helped for a few hours and then the pain would start again.”

A family member suggested that Walter make an appointment with me.

“The treatments have been like a miracle from God,” Walter says.  “I no longer have sleepless nights or that killer pain.  I can now run, jump, skip, and hop, activities I have not been able to do for about 30 years or more.  I truly believe that as time goes by I will improve even more.” 

Veronica is a final example.  She suffered from diabetic neuropathy and chronic myofascial pain in her lower back and extremities.  All have been treated successfully after a year under my care.

“The color in my face is back, and my diabetes is getting under control,” Veronica says.  “I don’t have tingling in my fingers anymore.  When I first came to Dr. Ajrawat, I thought the pain would never go away, but never say never. I feel very thankful.”