When diagnosed early, the pain and debilitating effects of diabetic peripheral neuropathy can be treated and controlled to maintain quality of life.

1. The Treatment Of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a condition that causes damage to the peripheral nervous
system, that is, in the feet and hands (although it is less common in the hands). Its cause is one
form or another of diabetes due to prolonged elevated levels of blood glucose. It is a type of
disorder that requires peripheral neuropathy treatment to address the symptoms, but, just as with
diabetes in general, diabetic peripheral neuropathy has no cure.
The symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy exhibit first as numbness in the feet and toes,
and it may extend to the lower legs. As the condition persists without treatment, the numbness
will gradually progress from tingling to mild pain, like hundreds of pin pricks, to sever pain
throughout the foot and legs.
Additional symptoms which may exhibit (some, but all may not necessarily be experienced)
include:
- Inability to distinguish temperature changes in feet and toes.
- Sharp, stinging pain, particularly at night.
- Standing and walking pain and difficulty standing and walking.
- Other foot disorders, including infections and ulcers.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is diagnosed by review of a patient's clinical history, including
observation of the above symptoms, and by clinical testing by measurement of peripheral nerve
function. Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common complications of a diabetic
diagnosis. If a patient already has a diabetic diagnosis and does not yet express the symptoms as
noted of peripheral neuropathy, chances are these symptoms will ultimately develop and be
diagnosed.
As noted, while the symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated,
there is, at present, no cure for the condition. However, it should also be noted that once
diagnosed, or if the condition presents, but is not diagnosed, either situation will ultimately result
in very serious consequences if not treated, up to and including peripheral amputation and death.
One of the primary treatments that should be applied, as with the regular diagnosis of diabetes, is
to control blood glucose levels within an acceptable range so that the neuropathic condition does
not exacerbate. If a pre-diabetic diagnosis is captured and addressed early in the progress of
diabetes, it is possible to prevent the onset of diabetes, and, ultimately, diabetic peripheral
neuropathy just by careful diet selections alone, with no further treatment by medication
necessary.
However, if the diabetic condition progresses to the point of diagnosis of diabetic peripheral

2. neuropathy, there are still medicinal treatments available to hold the progress of neuropathy in
check.
One over-the-counter medication that is available and has been shown to be effective in some
early-stage cases is treatment with a topical cream, lidocaine. If the lidocaine cream also contains
capsaicin, this is even more effective as an over-the-counter medication that is topically applied
according to instructions given on packaging. There are also patches containing these
medications.
Other prescription medications, primarily antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs have been
successful to keep the pain of peripheral neuropathy under control.