Drugs for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy

The article is expertly advised by MSc. Doctor Vu Thi Duyen - Doctor of Nephrology - Endocrinology, Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Neuropathy in patients with diabetes is one of the most common complications today. More than half of people with diabetes over the age of 60 have neurological complications that are typically peripheral neuropathy. Treatment of diabetic neuropathy is important to limit persistent neuropathic pain in people with diabetes, which greatly affects quality of life.

Nerve and blood vessel damage is the main factor leading to diabetic neuropathy
When blood glucose is high in diabetic patients, it will lead to nerve cell damage that reduces nerve conduction velocity . At the same time, when the small blood vessels feeding the nerves are damaged, the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the nerves is significantly reduced.
Many other factors contribute to nerve damage in patients with diabetes:
Neuroinflammation due to autoimmune reactions.
Smoking, alcoholism: These are very bad habits that contribute to nerve and blood vessel damage and also increase the risk of infection. Tobacco is a causative agent of narrowing and hardening of blood vessels leading to reduced blood flow to the extremities, slow wound healing and also contributes to nerve damage.
Duration of diabetes: The longer you have diabetes, the higher your risk of developing neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is most common in patients with diabetes with a duration of 25 years or more
Chronic kidney disease : When diabetes is complicated by chronic kidney disease, increased toxins in the blood can cause increased risk of further nerve damage.

There is no cure for neuropathy in patients with diabetes. The treatment of diabetic neuropathy with the aim of:
Slowing down the progression of complications of the disease worsening. Reduce pain caused by complications. Rehabilitation of patients. Reduce the risk of serious complications.

There are a number of good medications available to help relieve pain. Typical drugs commonly used to treat diabetic neuropathy include:
Antiepileptic drugs: Pregabalin (Lyrica), Gabapentin (Neurontin), and Carbamazepine (Tegretol) are used to treat epilepsy but have an effect. neuroleptic analgesics in some diabetic patients. Side effects of this drug are dizziness, drowsiness, swelling. In addition, carbamazepine can cause skin allergies like Stevens Johnson syndrome. Antidepressants: Amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and imipramine (Tofranil) are effective in reducing symptoms of mild to moderate pain. Side effects from this group may include dry mouth, sweating, drowsiness, and dizziness. Patches impregnated with lidocaine: used in the most painful areas, however, the drug can cause redness of the skin. Opioid-like pain relievers: Tramadol or oxycodone cannot be used for a long time because of the potential for addiction in addition to other side effects such as drowsiness, headache, and constipation. Temporary treatment with some methods to help relieve pain caused by nerve causes:
Capsaicin group: is a topical cream made from chili peppers, has analgesic effect when applied on the skin in some people, side effects can be severe. May experience a burning, burning sensation and skin may become irritated. Transcutaneous electrical nerve activation: This method blocks pain signals from traveling from the skin to the brain. This method is safe but doesn't work on everyone and all types of pain. Acupuncture: Acupuncture is an effective pain reliever, sometimes it takes several sessions to take effect. Should be performed by an experienced professional, acupuncture has no side effects.

Although diabetic neuropathy is rarely fatal, it reduces the patient's quality of life. Therefore, to prevent neurological complications of diabetes, it is necessary to control blood sugar well from the time of diagnosis.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is providing a diabetes screening package for dyslipidemia for high-risk subjects to help diagnose diabetes early and get treatment right from the start. when diagnosing.
Vinmec International General Hospital is a high-quality medical facility in Vietnam with a team of highly qualified medical professionals, well-trained, domestic and foreign, and experienced.
A system of modern and advanced medical equipment, possessing many of the best machines in the world, helping to detect many difficult and dangerous diseases in a short time, supporting the diagnosis and treatment of doctors the most effective. The hospital space is designed according to 5-star hotel standards, giving patients comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.