Could Diabetes be Affecting Your Nervous System?

When your body does not have enough insulin and there is too much blood sugar, the condition is called diabetes. There are several potential complications of having diabetes, one of which is damage to the nervous system.

High or low blood glucose level can affect your brain directly and lead to abnormal functioning. The brain likes the glucose level to be in the right amounts in your body. If the glucose level increases in the blood, you will notice these symptoms-

• Lethargy or weakness

• Increased thirst

• Headaches

• Vision problems

• Poor concentration

• Increased frequency of urine

If the level of blood glucose in your body is low, the following symptoms are likely to show up-

• Irregular heart rate

• Fatigue

• Anxiety

• Pale skin

• Sweating

• Irritability

• Increased hunger

Another direct effect of diabetes is neuropathy. Neuropathy or diabetic neuropathy is when high blood glucose levels damage the nerves throughout the body, especially the ones in your legs and feet. The damage is extremely painful and discomforting and requires immediate medical attention.

Types of diabetic neuropathy-

• Peripheral neuropathy- It mainly affects the foot region and the legs. Sometimes, it may be directed towards the back and abdomen.

• Autonomic neuropathy - It affects the abdominal region and the digestive system, and slowly spreads out to the urinary and reproductive system.

• Focal neuropathy- It attacks only the selected nerves in the body and causes weakness in the affected portions.

• Proximal neuropathy- It affects the lower body, such as the thighs, buttocks, and upper legs.

How to treat diabetic neuropathy?

If you want to avoid these effects in your body, it is best to deal with the root cause of the problem, that is, diabetes. Here is what you can do-

• Exercise regularly- Physical activity will help you to decrease your body fat and your insulin resistance. If you have a sedentary life, take breaks for 2 or 5 minutes in-between your work. Even brisk walking will help you.

• Maintain a low-calorie diet- Eat lots of fruits and leafy green vegetables; these are low on calories and carbohydrates, and high on essential nutrients. Avoid fatty foods and sugar.

• No carbonated beverages- Instead of soft beverages drink lots of water. Carbonated beverages can spike up your sugar level while water helps to get rid of that excess sugar in the blood.

• Reduce your stress- Excess stress induces production of hormones that can make your glucose level to rise significantly. Meditations and exercises will help you to de-stress.

• Go for a regular health check-up- Make sure you catch those signs early and visit a doctor for thorough check-ups.

It is very difficult to reverse the damage done to the nervous system by diabetes. Therefore, it is important that you carefully manage your blood sugar levels by eating healthy and exercising regularly to avoid such effects.