DEAR DR. ROACH: What are the treatment options for diabetic neuropathy? What is likely to happen over time to someone with this condition? — M.P.
ANSWER: Diabetic neuropathy is a condition of nerve damage associated with diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2. It affects the long nerves of the body earliest, especially those to the feet, causing numbness and sometimes pain. The hands also may be affected. Usually, both sides are affected the same way. Numbness usually is the first sign, followed by pain, often described as burning or tingling. The nerves to the gut can be affected, leading to constipation and bloating.
The best way of dealing with diabetic neuropathy is to not get it in the first place. Excellent control of diabetes, with near-normal sugar levels, was shown to reduce the incidence of people with diabetes developing the condition. In people who already have diabetic neuropathy, good control of blood sugar can improve symptoms and slow progression, but the condition usually is not reversible in people who have established symptoms. However, the pain sometimes can go away mysteriously.
Numbness to the feet puts individuals at risk for injury, as the affected person does not realize he or she is beginning to develop a problem, such as a sore or abrasion. People with diabetic neuropathy need to inspect their feet daily for warning signs, such as dry, cracking skin, redness or drainage, especially between the toes and around the nails. This should be combined with regular professional foot care by a diabetes doctor or foot specialist.
For people with pain due to diabetic neuropathy, there are several treatment options. Medication treatments include anti-epilepsy drugs, like gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica); antidepressant drugs, like amitriptyline or venlafaxine (Effexor); anesthetic agents, like lidocaine; and topical agents, like capsaicin.
I have been asked recently on my Facebook page (facebook.com/keithroachmd) about using cannibinoids (marijuana extracts) as a topical treatment for painful neuropathy. I found one paper in German that showed promise, and have heard several anecdotal stories of success, but it is too early for me to recommend it for clinical use.
