Diabetic Living Australia — July-August 2017

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WORDS

REBECCA LAKE; CARROL BAKER

PHOTOGRAPHY

GETTY IMAGES

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According to research, up to 20 per

cent of people with diabetes have

carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) –

a hand disorder caused by pressure

on the nerves in your wrists, resulting

in a tingling sensation, numbness or

pain. Although the experts aren’t sure

why CTS is so prevalent in people with

diabetes, they believe it may be caused

by excessively high BGLs. While you

may be tempted to “work through

the pain”, ignoring CTS may cause

permanent damage, so make an

appointment with your GP if you

think you may be at risk. Treatment

options range from resting your hands

more frequently, to wearing splints at

night, to physiotherapy, to surgery,

in more advanced cases.

Easy injections

Struggling to inject insulin because of

your CTS? Unifine Pentips Plus could

help. Featuring an ergonomic design

and a built-in needle remover, this pen

needle is both convenient and discreet!

Visit unifinepentipsplus.com.au to

find more information. ■

Know your toes

Q: I’ve had diabetes for

15 years but at this stage

I have no signs of nerve

damage (neuropathy) in

my feet. Is there a way to

test for early signs?

A: Some people with nerve damage

have no symptoms at all, says NPS

MedicineWise. Because most nerve

damage occurs over several years, mild

cases may go unnoticed for a long time.

Diabetic neuropathy is diagnosed based

upon a medical history and physical exam.

During the exam, your doctor may check

your heart rate, muscle strength, reflexes,

blood pressure, and sensitivity to vibration,

temperature, or light touch. However,

diabetes can affect the nerves in every

organ of your body including the heart

and gut, changing the way your body

absorbs drugs and potentially making

them less effective. Early detection is

important, even in patients who have

prediabetes. Visit your doctor to discuss

your risk of developing neuropathy.

Give pain

the push!

Take the ‘ouch’ factor out of

carpal tunnel syndrome

Early detection of

NERVE DAMAGE

is important

122 JULY/AUGUST 2017 diabetic living

GOOD advice