The Painful Truth About Diabetes And Nerve Pain

On Jan 21, 2023, St. Joseph Drug partnered with Viatris to raise awareness on “The Painful Truth About Diabetes And Its Complications”. They invited Dr. Rosalina Espiritu-Picar, an expert neurologist, to give details on how to recognize and treat diabetic or peripheral neuropathy – one of the most common complications of diabetes. Read on to learn more about the webinar. 

Diabetes is considered as an even bigger pandemic than COVID-19. In fact, experts expect a prevalence rate increase of about 31% in the next 2 to 3 decades in Western Pacific – a region which includes the Philippines.

But Filipinos are not just worried about diabetes itself; we are also concerned over its complications, which include peripheral neuropathy. 

Diabetes And Our Nerves

Diabetes can damage the large blood vessels, increasing the risk for conditions, like stroke. It can likewise harm the small blood vessels, potentially resulting in neuropathy or damage to the nerves.   

But how exactly does diabetes affect our nerves? 

Dr. Espiritu-Picar explained that nourishment for nerves passes through the small blood vessels. So, if they are damaged, the nerves will be deprived of nourishment.

The body’s nerves serve two main purposes: sensation and movement. There is likewise a special kind of nerve, called the autonomic nerve, which plays a role in automatic functions, involved in our heart beat, blood pressure, intestinal motility, and sweating. 

That’s why the symptoms of neuropathy depend on the kind of nerve affected by diabetes.  For instance, if diabetes affects your sensory nerves, you might not properly sense temperature or, in extreme cases, you may downright feel pain at the slightest touch. 

Why Is It Crucial To Address Neuropathy?

Diabetic or peripheral neuropathy, a fairly common complication, affects a person’s quality of life. Imagine getting burned because you touched a pot of boiling water and didn’t feel it or being in pain due to a featherlike touch. 

Furthermore, diabetic neuropathy is usually the culprit for diabetic foot that can result in amputation. Because the patient cannot feel pain, they might belatedly realize a wound on their foot. 

How can a patient know what painful diabetic neuropathy feels like? Dr. Espiritu-Picar outlined the following typical symptoms: 

• Sharp sensation (tusok-tusok)
• Feeling that something (like ants) are crawling on your skin
• Burning sensation 
• Kirot

She also advised people who have loved ones with diabetes to be vigilant. It is important to listen to the patient’s experiences and locate possible affected areas, which are commonly the hands and feet. 

Note also that painful neuropathy can lead to sleep problems (without distractions, pain is more severe at night) and even anxiety or depression. 

The Proper Way To Manage Peripheral Neuropathy

There’s no one way to “cure” diabetic neuropathy. As discussed by Dr. Espiritu-Picar, it is important to:

• Educate the patient about healthy diet and lifestyle, neuropathy, and diabetic foot care. 
• Stabilize the blood sugar levels
• Manage existing comorbidities, like hypertension and high cholesterol
• Use therapeutic agents that are specific to neuropathic pain

The Myth About Vitamin B And Additional Reminders for Treating Neuropathy

A lot of people seem to have the idea that vitamin B is enough to ease painful neuropathy. It’s not true, according to the expert doctor. Vitamin B is good for people who lack the said vitamin, but it is NOT specific to diabetic neuropathic pain. Nonetheless, vitamin B, especially B-12, helps improve symptoms of patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy. And the lack thereof increases the risk of developing the condition if he or she hasn’t had it yet.

She also reminds the public that over-the-counter pain relievers only work for nociceptive pains – those originating from muscles, bones, or joints. They are not effective for nerve pain. According to the neurologist, for neuropathy, anticonvulsants, such as pregabalin, can work well. 

Furthermore, when choosing a therapeutic agent, one must consider its ability to also improve anxiety, depression, and sleep. This is because many people who report having neuropathy also report experiencing anxiety and sleep troubles. 

The bottom line is: if you suspect painful neuropathy, you must consult a doctor to receive the right treatment.

In the end, Dr. Rosalina Espiritu-Picar emphasized the importance of preventing diabetes. If you or your loved one already has the condition, it’s essential to work closely with your doctor to reduce the risk of or manage complications, like diabetic neuropathic pain. 

You can watch the full episode of The Painful Truth About Diabetes And Its Complications here: