Like many people, you have a lot to talk about when you visit your healthcare provider. While pain may not seem like an important symptom to share with your healthcare provider, it can be an indicator of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP), or diabetic nerve pain, which can worsen if it doesn't get treated.
If you have already been diagnosed with diabetic nerve pain, but feel that you are not getting relief of your symptoms, it may be worth re-starting a conversation with your healthcare provider. Sharing certain information may help you and your healthcare provider determine why you are not feeling relief and how your treatment can be changed.
Click here for more information about options for managing diabetic nerve pain.
It's important for your healthcare provider to know about your symptoms (e.g., burning, shooting, aching), and how they have impacted your life-what everyday things may have become more difficult and how this makes you feel. This information can help your healthcare provider diagnose your condition and choose the most appropriate treatment plan for you.
Being prepared about what you are going to say can make starting the discussion easier. Your healthcare provider may also want to know some more about your overall health and how you have been managing your diabetic nerve pain. It may be helpful to think about the following questions before talking with your healthcare provider:
- What medical conditions have you been diagnosed with?
- What medications are you currently taking?
- What medications (either prescription or over-the-counter) have you been using to treat your diabetic nerve pain?
- Are these medications providing you with relief?
- Are you taking any other vitamins, or herbal supplements?
- Are you using alternative treatments, such as massage or exercise, to relieve your diabetic nerve pain?
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