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What is diabetic neuropathy?
When there is an abnormal condition in function and structure of peripheral nervous system from diabetes, we call it diabetic neuropathy. As diabetic neuropathy is often not the direct cause of death, it is easily considered as unimportant. However, diabetic neuropathy is the most frequently occurring complication from patients who have diabetes, and it can not be neglected regarding the difficulty in their daily life. Diabetic neuropathy can occur without other chronic complication in its early stage or it even does not show up until the last minute but, it is considered as having a relationship with the progress and period of diabetes like other chronic complication.
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What is the symptom of diabetic neuropathy?
The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy differs from in which part and what kind of the body peripheral nerve is damaged. Thus, there are lots of different types of symptoms which are mixed in lots of different types of patients. The symptoms depend on whether nerve fiber is damaged, but the symptoms are more remarkable at lower limbs than upper limbs as the longer the nerve cell is, more possibilities of being damaged.
1) Sense Symptoms : the usual sense symptoms for diabetic neuropathy is abnormal perception symptoms, abnormal sense symptoms. However it sometimes shows oversensitiveness of perception or causalgia and even shows severe pain where an individual cannot carry on with their normal life. The sense symptoms of diabetic neuropathy starts to show from sense disorders of toe and spreads upwards to the knees and shows symptoms in the fingers or hands.
2) Movement symptoms : when the movement nerves are damaged due to diabetic neuropathy, then decrease in muscular power and muscular atrophy occurs. In diabetes, it is rare to only see movement nerve disorders and when examined carefully, we can find some level of sense disorders as well.
3) Autonomic Nerve Symptoms : usually the diabetic neuropathy does not clearly show clinical symptoms and are mostly not clear. Due to limitations of examination methods many of the symptoms are ignored but about 40% of diabetes patients show autonomic nerve symptoms while examination for cardiovascular donation and because it is related to many functional disorders of organs it needs diagnosis and observation.
In general, diabetic neuropathy starts from the foot��s perspiration disorder and temperature control disorder and is followed by impotence, urination disorder and disorder in reaction of cardiovascular and in the end show perspiration disorder of the upper part of the body, orthostatic low blood pressure, digestive function disorder, hypoglycemia and decrease in recognition ability.
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What are the existing examination methods of diabetic neuropathy?
To examine the existing sense nerves there is four methods; monofilament, tuning fork, Tiptherm, NCV.
1) Monofilament : it is a method of examining through sense of pain examination; poke the patient��s foot in ten places with the force of just bending the monofilament and see whether the patient feels pain.
2) Tuning Fork : it is a method of examining by changing vibration by stages, give vibration to the top of the patient��s foot and see whether the patient feels the vibration.
3) Tiptherm : it is a method of examining by alternating metal and plastic on the patient��s foot see whether the patient feels the temperature change.
4) NCV : it is a method of examining nerve transmission and is examined through transmission speed of stimulus in the nerve and shows the damage of the nerve system.
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What are the disadvantages of the preexisting examination method?
There are a lot of inconveniences while examining, and has a high possibility of subjective error. The preexisting examination usually examines the disorder of the sensenerves. The disorder of the sense nerve system already shows that it has proceeded too far and thus with the preexisting examination method it is hard to diagnose the neuropathy at an early stage. The process of examination and diagnosis depends on the patient��s reaction and due to the various expression methods by the patient there is a high possibility of subjective error. Also, it is carried out with the patient��s eyes close and therefore increases the anxiety of the patient and we cannot ignore the possibility of the patient lying to look normal. The examination method takes a long time as well.
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What is the advantage of Neurocheck?
Neurocheck is a method which checks perspiration decrease on foot that is the early symptom when a person's autonomic nerve is damaged by diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy is diagnosed with Neuropad in early stage. It is fast and easy as the color change shows you the result in 10 minutes and patient cooperation is not necessary. It is also objective as you can see the change with your eyes.
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What is the diagnostic period?
To check the health condition of foot, it is recommended to have tests once in 6 months.
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Is there any product which has the same material in Korea?
Neurocheck is the only product in Korea which is imported from miro Verbandstoffe, Germany.
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Can I buy Neurocheck at the pharmacy?
Neurocheck a ETC which needs doctor's prescription. Test is currently done in general hospitals.
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In which general hospitals Neurocheck is currently used?
Cha General Hospital, Kangbuk Samsung hospital, Sinchon Severance Hospital, Yongdong Severance Hospital, Ewha Womans University Dongdaemun Hospital, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Daejin Medical Center, Eulji General Hospital, Daerim Saint Mary's Hospital, Hallym Medical Center, Ajou University Hospital, Sejong General Hospital, etc.
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