Controlling blood sugar may not be the only thing diabetics need to do to avoid the painful condition known as diabetic neuropathy say researchers based on findings of a recent study. High triglyceride levels, being overweight, smoking, and high blood pressure, is found to exacerbate the condition.
According to researchers proper blood sugar control can markedly decrease the risk of neuropathy, however they also add that a significant number of patients are still affected despite good control , thus identifying additional risk factors, researchers say, might lead to new risk-reduction strategies.Researchers studied around 1,200 people with type 1 diabetes who were initially screened for neuropathy between 1989 and 1991. None of the patients had the condition, which is characterized by loss of feeling or painful tingling in various parts of the body, at the initial screen. All patients were followed for about seven years. On analyzing the data 276 patients, or about 23 percent, developed neuropathy. While incidence of the condition was related to blood sugar control and diabetes duration, researchers also found a greater neuropathy risk among those with the risk factors previously mentioned.
Thus in conclusion researchers say bringing blood pressure under better control, eating right to lower triglyceride levels, losing weight, and stopping smoking could all help people avoid the diabetic complication.
