Diabetic Nerve Pain: Preventing and Controlling Diabetic Nerve Pain

One of the usual pains and discomforts that a diabetic has to deal with is diabetic nerve pain. It can significantly affect your day-to-day activities by making it hard to do the things you enjoy and, thus, making life more difficult. This nerve pain can cause difficulty in such mundane tasks as standing, walking, grasping things with hands; all these makes normal working and socializing a near-impossibility.Technically, this problem is called diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) or painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. In layman’s terms, this means damage to the nerves in either or all of the hands, arms, feet, or legs. This is most likely the result of blood sugar staying on high levels for longer periods of time.

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This nerve damage may cause the nerve cells to fire out sporadic signals that would result to the diabetic’s experiencing burning, sharp stabbing or shooting pains. This type of pain is different from other types of pains like headaches, muscle aches and joint aches that the usual medications associated with these have not been proven to work very well for nerve pains.

Coping with diabetic nerve pain is an equally challenging prospect. One afflicted with it can best be guided by the 7 self-care behaviors identified by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. These 7 self-care behaviors are believed to be critical measures to helping patients successfully live with their diabetes by developing coping skills.

The following behaviors are highly recommended for people suffering from diabetic nerve pain:

Healthy Eating – limit sugars and starches. These are the foods that primarily raise one’s blood sugar. As always, regular well-balanced meals should be followed. Consult your attending physician or your registered dietitian for help in planning your day-to-day meals.
Being Active – exercise regularly. You need not run 10 miles per day to do this recommendation. Any constant active movement such as walking the dog, gardening, a stroll in the park or plain sight-seeing could be enough exercise for anyone. Other practical means of getting the exercise you need without really trying so hard is to use the stairs instead of the elevator, getting off the bus a few blocks away from your work place, or if you drive a car, park at the farthest end of the parking lot. Make sure to consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Most important reminder: be sure to wear appropriate shoes for these activities. Seek the help of your podiatrist.
Reducing risks – Never push yourself too hard. This may cause stress that causes more negative effects on your health and emotions.
Healthy coping – Health care professionals, diabetes educators, online forums or message boards, and your family are caring and understanding sources of comfort and support. Talk and express how you are feeling. You will realize that there are more coping possibilities when you open up and are understood by others.
Taking Medications – if you have diabetic nerve pain, see your doctor and you will be guided if medication is an option.
Monitoring – record day-to-day episodes of your pains, how often do you feel those, times of the day, where in your body, and how long the pain lasts? This record would greatly help your doctor get a better grasp of your case.
Problem solving – when problems occur, go and see your doctor. With your daily record of pain episodes, you and your doctor could make assessment and find ways to alleviate the suffering you experience from diabetic nerve pain.

Keeping track of your pain would help your doctor assess your case with enough data to come up with a more efficient medication and dosages that will work best to reduce your diabetic nerve pain.

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