Sheets rubbing caused me unbearable pain.

-the diabetic neuropathy, the most common complication of diabetes, is an impairment of the nervous system that, in one of every three cases, produces a chronic pain of great intensidad1

-primary care physicians play a fundamental role in the prevention and detection of this complication of diabetes. To help them in their work, the WTO and Lilly have edited the ‘ guide of good clinical practice in neuropathic pain in diabetic patient ’

Spain, January 2013.- thirty-one years ago that I am diabetic and fifteen that I suffer pain due to diabetic neuropathy. I started to notice a kind of numbness, which is known as paresthesias in legs. It was a tingling sensation in the calves feet, which was transformed into feeling cramps and, later, in pain before the slightest friction. Only contact with the sheets caused me unbearable pain. I am a doctor, so my diabetes combined with this intense pain made me think that I had developed a diabetic neuropathy. I was right ”. In this way, Dr. Andrés Huete, medical device of critical care and health emergencies in Jaen, explains how changed you the life of this condition of the nervous system that suffer 50% of diabetic patients and causing chronic pain of great intensity in one of every three casos1.

Although it is the most common complication of diabetes and the patient usually consult their doctor for severe pain, the diagnosis is not easy. Is a disease that for a certain time passes unnoticed, first, by certain barriers in the health system, such as the time of patient care; the disinformation of some of my colleagues in this area; as well as the age of patients, which makes you think before problems Osteoarticular related to his age as a neuropathy ” lists Dr. Huete.

Precisely, to facilitate the work of primary care physicians to help diagnose this complication from diabetes, he has edited the guide of good clinical practice in neuropathic pain in diabetic patient ”, edited by the Spanish Medical Association (OMC) and Lilly, and whose contents are supported by the Ministry of health, social services and equality.

Among other things, this guide helps health professionals to detect certain alarm symptoms and carry out a series of tests that will determine the diagnosis: interview clinic, to know the personal history of the patient, as well as the characteristics of the aforementioned symptoms, etc; physical examination, to search for sensory alterations (the strand test) and motor; as well as other complementary tests (analytical, nerve conduction studies etc). In addition to this guide, Lilly has developed a formative material destined to the sector of nursing and other education directed to patients.

Limitations requiring the change of life

began to see how the disease confined my daily activities. At that time, I gave daily walks, but the pain in the feet and legs forced me to stop continuously. In the same way that I had to give up other hobbies he shared with my partner: the dances of living. Disease I also just at the professional level. I am a doctor of emergency device and not able to perform my work normally desesperaba I ”, tells Dr. Huete, an example of why painful diabetic neuropathy is associated with a worse quality of life.

As doctor, having developed a complication as the painful diabetic neuropathy was bleak. Even so, my nature, at the beginning I tried to accept it in a positive way, but with time I became more difficult to overcome ” recalls Dr. Huete. In fact, it is not easy to assume the limitations in daily activities, hence that is frequently that these patients also have depression, anxiety and sleep reciprocation.

Multidisciplinary approach

The peripheral diabetic neuropathy (NDP), whether or not they are painful, can not be understood as something isolated but that requires a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to prevention (hyperglycemia control, monitoring of the cardiovascular risk factors, prevent the emergence of diabetic foot by taking certain measures of hygiene(, and the associated comorbidity treatment) as well as regarding the pathophysiological treatment and symptomatic relief.

In this sense, the future is hopeful, since the drugs improve the quality of patients that suffer this disease ” explains Dr. Huete referring to symptomatic treatments, such as Duloxetine (antidepressant), which reduce the intensity of the pain.

About Lilly

Lilly, a leading company based on innovation, is developing a growing portfolio of innovative products applying discoveries made in its laboratories, located throughout the world, and thanks to the collaboration with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lilly provides answers – through medicines and information – to some of the most urgent medical needs in the world.

referencia:

1. Alvarez-Guisasola, F; White Tarrio, e. et to the. Guide good practice clinic in neuropathic pain in diabetic patient. P. 34