Diabetes News
(Newstream) May 11, 2005 -- Diabetic neuropathy is a common, serious complication of diabetes. In fact, it is estimated that one out of two people with diabetes has this condition. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently commissioned a study to determine whether people with diabetes are aware of diabetic neuropathy. The results are both surprising and disturbing.
Symptoms of this nerve damage include sensations of pain and/or numbness, tingling or "pins and needles" in the feet and hands, and can be debilitating. The nerve damage can make a person extremely sensitive to even the lightest touch. Simply wearing socks or having a foot touch a bed sheet can cause pain. The pain typically worsens at night, making it difficult to sleep. Many people with this condition have difficulty walking, working or socializing.
Yet only a small minority have been diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy and an alarming number have never even heard of this condition. This also means that people at risk do not know about the things they can do to prevent or delay associated symptoms. This is important for the 18.2 Americans living with diabetes.
Some of the ADA study's key findings include:
Almost two-thirds of survey respondents who experience symptoms of diabetic neuropathy (62 percent) believe that their symptoms are associated with their diabetes. However, less than half (42 percent) have been told by their doctor that diabetes is the cause.
Approximately one in seven people (15 percent) who said they talked to their doctor about their symptoms and pain reported that no cause was mentioned by their doctor.
Only one in four (25 percent) survey respondents who experience symptoms of diabetic neuropathy have been diagnosed with the condition.
The majority of respondents who experience symptoms (56 percent) remain unaware of the term diabetic neuropathy.
ADA is launching a major campaign to raise awareness of diabetic neuropathy. To learn more about diabetic neuropathy, call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org/neuropathy. If you are experiencing symptoms, ADA recommends talking to your doctor.