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Lasting relief from diabetic nerve pain - safely and naturally with acupuncture.
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Diabetic Neuropathy
We have had a lot of success treating diabetic neuropathy in our clinic. For many patients, acupuncture has been the only thing that has given them relief from constant pain.
Diabetic neuropathies are nerve disorders caused by diabetes. People with diabetes often develop damage to nerves throughout the body. This damage is called "neuropathy" and can cause numbness, pain and weakness in the hands, arms, feet, and legs. Problems may also occur in internal organs including the digestive tract, heart, and sex organs. People with diabetes can develop these nerve problems at any time, but the longer a person has diabetes, the greater the risk.
An estimated 50% of patients with diabetes have some form of neuropathy, but not all have symptoms. The highest rates of neuropathy are among people who have had the disease for at least 25 years.
Diabetic neuropathy also appears to be more common in people who have had problems controlling their blood sugar levels, in those with high levels of blood fat and blood pressure, in overweight people, and in people over the age of 40.
Types of Neuropathy
There are two main types of neuropathy:
- Peripheral neuropathy, which causes either pain or loss of feeling in the toes, feet, legs, hands, and arms.
- Autonomic neuropathy affects the internal organs and can cause changes in digestion, bowel and bladder function, sexual response, and perspiration. It can also affect the nerves that serve the heart and control blood pressure.
Symptoms depend on the type of neuropathy and which nerves are affected. Some people have no symptoms at all. For others, numbness, tingling, or pain in the feet is often the first sign. Often, symptoms are minor at first, and since most nerve damage occurs over several years, mild cases may go unnoticed for a long time.
Pain Relief
Pain medications, anti-inflammatories, and antidepressants are commonly used to treat diabetic neuropathy. However, acupuncture is the best treatment available for diabetic neuropathy. Its benefits are quick and long-lasting, and without any side effects common to drug therapy.
Acupuncture as a treatment for diabetes and diabetes-related conditions has been known in China for a very long time (diabetes was first diagnosed in China about 2,500 years ago), but has recently been rediscovered by modern researchers.
An important study conducted at the University of Manchester in Britain showed that 77% of patients with diabetic neuropathy showed significant improvement in their symptoms with acupuncture treatment. 21% saw their symptoms disappear completely. (Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1998 Feb;39(2):115-21.)
Call us
If you'd like help with your diabetic neuropathy, call us. We would be happy to answer your questions on the phone.
Our specialist in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy is Lorenzo Puertas, L.Ac., Q.M.E.
East Bay Pain Care
(510) 444-2772
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