Diabetes and numbness in fingers is a sign of peripheral neuropathy, which is a type of nerve damage that begins in the hands and the feet. Peripheral neuropathy is common in diabetics, especially when a person has had diabetes for a long time or has had trouble controlling their blood sugar levels. Diabetes numbness in fingers is a serious condition and should be reported to your doctor as soon as possible.

When diabetes leads to peripheral neuropathy, the results can be very damaging. In fact, it may lead to the removal of a finger or fingers. In addition, peripheral neuropathy spreads inward from diabetes numbness in fingers symptoms, to numbness in the arms, and eventually into internal organs. This eventually leads to conditions like kidney failure, gastrointestinal problems, and muscle deterioration. Luckily, the earlier that conditions which cause diabetes and numbness in fingers are discovered, the earlier further damage can be prevented.

 

Treatment of Diabetes and Numbness in Fingers

 

When you seek treatment for your diabetes and numbness in fingers symptoms, it will begin with keeping your blood sugar levels on target. This involves eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly. You must also begin seeing your doctor regularly, if you are not already doing so. In addition, take care to be sure that there are no undetected sores, and that any sores you have are treated properly. Otherwise a serious infection may result, leading to amputation.

Medications such as oral pain relievers and different types of topical creams are used to relieve pain due to nerve damage. Physicians have also found that antidepressants are helpful in treating pain caused by damaged nerves. Duloxetine hydrochloride is an example of such. Medications to control seizures, such as pregabalin and gabapentin, have also been found to be helpful in cases of diabetes and numbness in fingers.

Alternative therapies are also sometimes used. According to WebMD, acupuncture has been found through studies to be helpful with diabetic neuropathy pain. Physical therapies such as exercises, stretching, and massage may also be used. In some cases they are even able to restore some of the feeling which is lost in peripheral neuropathy. One must be sure and not use heat or ice, even if you have been told to. The lack of sensation caused by the nerve damage may cause you to not be able to feel the changes in temperature. Finally, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may be used, and is a very helpful complementary therapy. It works by applying brief pulses of electricity to the nerve ending, thereby reducing pain.