Facts on Diabetic Amyotrophy

Diabetic amyotrophy is a diabetic neuropathy that usually occurs to type 2 diabetic patients. There is a lot of pain and numbness and muscles weakness, most especially in the thigh, hip and buttocks. This condition mostly happens to middle aged women and older men who have type 2 diabetes. This condition has also been referred as the Bruns-Garland Syndrome, proximal diabetic neuropathy and lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy. Diabetic amyotrophy is extremely painful. It usually happens in the night and could attack one side of the body at a time. Although pain is usually concentrated in the middle part of the body and upper limbs, pain could also travel and extend to the toes, legs, feet, hand and arms. Some of the early signs of diabetic amyotrophy are numbness to pain and extreme temperature, tingling, burning and prickling, cramps, sensitivity to touch and loss of coordination and balance. One could also observe feet deformities, blister and sores on the numb areas. These should be treated immediately as infection from the sores could extent to the bones. Infected bones will need to be amputated to prevent from spreading all throughout the body. This is a very severe effect of diabetes which is very common to happen. So what is diabetes? Diabetes is a metabolic disease wherein the patient has high blood sugar level due to low insulin or inability to respond to the insulin produced by the body. Classic diabetes symptoms are constant thirst, hunger and frequent urination. There are several types of diabetes: • Type 1 – Also referred to as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. This happens when the body fails to produce insulin, thus the patient’s need for regular insulin shots. It usually occurs suddenly on thin children. • Type 2 – This is the so-called adult-onset diabetes or the non-insulin dependent. This is the resistance of the body to use the insulin that is naturally produced. This is developed gradually among obese adults. • Gestational Diabetes – This happens to otherwise healthy women who have developed high glucose level in the blood during pregnancy. This could develop into Type 2 diabetes if left untreated. Aside from these three types, diabetes can also be due to genetics, monogenic, due to cystic fibrosis or induced by excessive use and dosage of steroids. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are incurable. Symptoms can be hold in check with insulin shots and proper Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes diet. Aside from the genetic factors, type 2 diabetes is caused by excessive and abusive lifestyle. Among the prime contributors are smoking, alcoholic intake and a diet contradictory to the ideal type 2 diabetes diet. To avoid the risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes, one must stay away from foods that are fatty and with high sugar contents. The diabetic amyotrophy can last as long as five months if left untreated. To get relief from the pain, the patient should immediately seek the help of a doctor. The patient will have to undergo a thorough physical examination to determine the overall condition of the patient. He will then be advised of the best diet, exercises, insulin shots if needed and other medications. These are all aimed to lower the glucose level in the blood, which caused the diabetic amyotrophy.