Approximately 21.0 million Americans were diagnosed with diabetes in 2012 (with 8.1 million people undiagnosed); that is 9.3% of the United States population (statistics provided by the American Diabetes Association). And those are only the statistics for diabetes and prediabetes diagnoses.

Scary statistics, right?

At The Pain Management Center we have the experience to properly diagnose diabetes and to treat diabetes-related acute and chronic pain without using addictive pain medications or invasive surgery.

We invite you to keep reading to learn more about diabetes.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is also called “diabetes mellitus.” It is a group of diseases that occur when too much sugar is in the blood, which is also referred to as high blood glucose.

Four common types of diabetes exist:

• Type 2 Diabetes (this is the most common type of diabetes and usually diagnosed in overweight patients.)
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Prediabetes
• Gestational Diabetes (evident in some pregnant women)

Common Symptoms of Diabetes Pain

The following symptoms are typically experienced by most diabetes sufferers:

• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Constant hunger
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Bruises and/or cuts that heal slowly
• Unexplained weight loss

In addition, diabetes sufferers may also experience these symptoms:

• peripheral neuropathy
• neuropathy
• numbness in legs
• burning in legs
• itchy legs
• pain in the feet, legs or hips
• sleep problems due to burning legs

It is important to note that many people who suffer from Type 2 diabetes have mild symptoms that oftentimes go unnoticed and become ignored. Be sure to monitor your health.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call The Pain Management Center right away. Report any symptoms to the doctor so that he or she can make a proper diagnosis and develop a customized treatment plan for you.

Treatment and Care Options

Early treatment for diabetes is extremely important. If early detection and treatment is not achieved, diabetes complications can arise, which may not be pleasant.

Diabetes treatment and care heavily depends on the type of diabetes you’ve been diagnosed with. For those suffering from Type 2 Diabetes, oral medications and a heathy lifestyle can usually keep blood glucose levels at a healthy rate.

However, as time passes, the body will eventually produce a lesser amount of insulin. When this happens, the patient will need to use insulin to maintain healthy blood glucose levels.

Various treatments and care options exist to help with diabetes symptoms and the symptoms that arise from diabetes complications. Some of these treatment options include:

• Lyrica®
• spinal cord stimulation
• neurontin
• gabapentin
• antidepressants for pain

The Pain Management Center helps you manage and treat diabetes-related symptoms and pain in a conservative way. Once we perform an evaluation and speak with you regarding symptoms you’re experiencing, we will determine which treatment options will provide the most benefits.

Managing and Living With Diabetes

There are many different lifestyle strategies you can use to manage and live with diabetes on a daily basis. The strategies heavily depend on the type of diabetes you’re diagnosed with. And since there is no cure for diabetes, proper diabetes management becomes extremely important.

One major strategy to implement, regardless of which type of diabetes you have, is to eat a balanced diet. Your doctor will discuss dietary restrictions and certain foods that you should eat in order to manage diabetes. Also, don’t forget to take the medications as prescribed by your doctor.

Another strategy to implement, regardless of the type of diabetes you have, is to implement a routine exercise regiment. Trying to maintain a healthy weight should become one of your main goals. A healthy weight, exercising, taking medications as prescribed by your doctor, and eating the right foods will help to maintain proper and healthy blood glucose levels.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call our doctors at The Pain Management Center. We want to help you live a happy, healthy life while managing your diabetes.