Diabetes paralysis goes by many names. When it strikes, it is often without warning, but is it really? People with diabetes have known increased risk factors for Stroke, Neuropathy, Transient Ischemic Attack, and Gastroparesis. Establishing a treatment regime with your doctor and sticking to it will play an important role in keeping your insulin levels steady, thus greatly reducing the chances that you will experience lasting effects of paralysis. Let’s take a closer look at each type.
Stroke
Diabetics are two to four times as likely as a healthy individual to have a stroke. A stroke, simply put, is a “brain attack” caused by a blood clot blocking an artery or an artery collapsing or breaking on its own. Poorly managed diabetes leads to a thickening of soft tissue which cause the increase in chances to suffer a stroke.
When the brain attack occurs, blood flow is disrupted to the rest of the brain, causing immediate damage to surrounding tissue. Depending on where in the brain this occurs, permanent paralysis is a distinct possibility.
Neuropathy
Sometimes called Bell’s Palsy, Neuropathy is the loss of nerve endings, and thus control over twitching and movement in a part of the body. For diabetics, the feet are most often affected by a high loss of sensation, but it also occurs in the face. When the facial nerves begin to decay, facial expression becomes more and more difficult. Diabetes paralysis of the face is no laughing matter. Chewing, talking, and sometimes swallowing become increasingly difficult.
Transient Ischemic Attack
Not all diabetes paralysis is permanent. A Transient Ischemic Attack can look and feel like a “mini stroke.” In fact, rather than a complete blockage or rupture as found in a stroke, a Transient Ischemic Attack is simply a significant slow down of blood flow in the brain. It can cause sudden weakness and typically paralyzes ones side of the body. As blood flow normalizes, normal functioning will return to the affected area, but it could take a matter of months and/or hours of physical therapy.
Gastroparesis
Diabetes paralysis can even effect your gut. Gastroparesis is paralysis of the stomach. When this strikes, digestion becomes impossible as the food just eaten cannot be moved into the lower intestines for digesting. The food comes back up. It’s unknown how many people are being diagnosed foe Celiac or Acid Reflux who might actually be suffering from a partial paralysis of the gut due to untreated diabetes.
Reducing Risk factors
Sudden paralysis can seem like lightening just struck, but just as you would not go out in a thunderstorm and stand under a tall tree while holding an umbrella, you should also take precautions to be in the right place at the right time with your treatment. Sticking to the plan you and your doctor establish, staying active physically, socially and yes, even emotionally, can all play a part in reducing your risk for diabetes paralysis.
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