Treatment

Diabetic neuropathy has no known cure. The goals of treatment are to:

• Slow progression of the disease
• Relieve pain
• Manage complications and restore function

Slowing progression of the disease

Consistently keeping your blood sugar within your target range is the key to preventing or delaying nerve damage. Good blood sugar management may even improve some of your current symptoms. Your doctor will figure out the best target range for you based on factors including your age, how long you've had diabetes and your overall health.

Blood sugar levels may need to be individualized. But, in general, the American Diabetes Association recommends the following target blood sugar levels for most people with diabetes:

• Between 80 and 130 mg/dL, which is 4.4 and 7.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) before meals
• Less than 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) two hours after meals

Mayo Clinic encourages slightly lower blood sugar levels for most younger people with diabetes, and slightly higher levels for older people who may be more at risk of low blood sugar complications. Mayo Clinic generally recommends the following target blood sugar levels before meals:

• Between 80 and 120 mg/dL (4.4 and 6.7 mmol/L) for people age 59 and younger who have no other medical conditions
• Between 100 and 140 mg/dL (5.6 and 7.8 mmol/L) for people age 60 and older, or for those who have other medical conditions, including heart, lung or kidney disease

Other important ways to help slow or prevent neuropathy from getting worse include keeping your blood pressure under control, maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular physical activity.

Relieving pain

Many prescription medications are available for diabetes-related nerve pain, but they don't work for everyone. When considering any medication, talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible side effects to find what might work best for you.

Pain-relieving prescription treatments may include:

• Anti-seizure drugs. Some medications used to treat seizure disorders (epilepsy) are also used to ease nerve pain. The American Diabetes Association recommends starting with pregabalin (Lyrica). Gabapentin (Gralise, Neurontin) also is an option. Side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness and swelling.

• Antidepressants. Some antidepressants ease nerve pain, even if you aren't depressed. Tricyclic antidepressants may help with mild to moderate nerve pain. Drugs in this class include amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin) and imipramine (Tofranil). Side effects can be bothersome and include dry mouth and drowsiness.

  Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are another type of antidepressant that may help with nerve pain and have fewer side effects. The American Diabetes Association recommends duloxetine (Cymbalta) as a first treatment. Another that may be used is venlafaxine (Effexor XR). Possible side effects include nausea, sleepiness, dizziness, decreased appetite and constipation.

Sometimes, an antidepressant may be combined with an anti-seizure drug. These drugs can also be used with pain-relieving medication, such as an over-the-counter medication including acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or a skin patch with lidocaine (a numbing substance).

Managing complications and restoring function

To manage complications, you may need care from different specialists, such as a doctor that treats urinary tract problems (urologist) and a heart doctor (cardiologist), who can help prevent or treat complications.

The treatment you'll need depends on the neuropathy-related complication you have:

• Urinary tract problems. Some drugs affect bladder function, so your doctor may recommend stopping or changing medications. A strict urination schedule or urinating every few hours (timed urination) while applying gentle pressure to the bladder area (below your bellybutton) can help some bladder problems. Other methods, including self-catheterization, may be needed to remove urine from a nerve-damaged bladder.
• Digestive problems. To relieve mild signs and symptoms of gastroparesis — indigestion, belching, nausea or vomiting — doctors suggest eating smaller, more-frequent meals. Diet changes and medications may help relieve gastroparesis, diarrhea, constipation and nausea.
• Low blood pressure on standing (orthostatic hypotension). Treatment starts with simple lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol, drinking plenty of water, and changing positions such as sitting or standing slowly. Sleeping with the head of the bed raised 6 to 10 inches helps prevent swings in blood pressure. Your doctor may also recommend compression support for your abdomen (abdominal binder). Several medications, either alone or together, may be used to treat orthostatic hypotension.
• Sexual dysfunction. Medications taken by mouth or injection may improve sexual function in some men, but they aren't safe and effective for everyone. Mechanical vacuum devices may increase blood flow to the penis. Women may find relief with vaginal lubricants.