People with high blood sugar levels can develop diabetic neuropathy over time, a condition that results in painful, tingling, or numb sensations in the body. It is a problem that can make life with diabetes that much more difficult.
Thankfully, there are some medications and practices you can try to help improve symptoms, so you can get back to work or play.
Treatment Methods for the Symptoms
Patients may be able to relieve mild nerve pain with over-the-counter drugs, like Ibuprofen and Aspirin. However, more severe pain and burning require something else.
Prescription Medications
Commonly, doctors will prescribe antidepressants for neuropathy. Not because patients are depressed, but because this medication interferes with the brain’s ability to feel pain. Tricyclic antidepressants are usually the go-to, including:
- Amitriptyline
- Imipramine
- Desipramine
Another option is to prescribe anti-seizure medications, such as the kind used to prevent epileptic seizures. They appear to help interfere with the nerve’s ability to transmit pain signals. Some of these medications commonly prescribed for diabetic neuropathy are:
- Pregabalin
- Gabapentin
- Phenytoin
- Carbamazepine
Lidocaine patches and capsaicin cream are also able to numb nerves or block pain signals in the skin. However, these have to be used carefully as both can cause irritation.
Last, but certainly not least, opioids may be prescribed to treat severe diabetic neuropathy. You should be aware that these painkillers can be addictive.
Things You Can Do At Home
Of course, patients can do a lot to help ease unpleasant symptoms too. Many people report that their pain gets better with regular exercise. This may be due to a combination of increased blood flow and the natural endorphins released during activity. Exercise can help improve the body’s use of insulin too.
It’s also a good idea to cut out smoking and drinking. Smoking interferes with your circulation, and alcohol appears to worsen the symptoms of neuropathy. Both inhibit the body’s healing abilities, which may keep damaged nerves that could heal from doing so.
Consider taking Alpha-lipoic acid: there is some research that shows it can help with blood sugar control and may aid those with neuropathy. However, it is better to start taking this supplement when the condition is still mild.
[expand title=”References“]
Tips For Treating Diabetic Nerve Pain. URL Link. Accessed April 13, 2017.
The Nerve Damage of Diabetes. URL Link. Accessed April 13, 2017.
Anti-seizure Medications: Relief from Nerve Pain. URL Link. Accessed April 13, 2017.
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