​Damage to the nervous system manifests as peripheral neuropathy. It can impact patients in many debilitating ways, from chronic pain to loss of independence, amputation to increased fall risk. Left untreated, the disease may leave individuals without a driver’s license, sleep deprived, or in a wheelchair. Many factors increase the likelihood of developing the condition. These include diabetes and alcohol abuse. 

But do your patients understand the link between peripheral neuropathy and chronic stress? Keep reading for the full scoop on this important topic. 

Public awareness about the relationship between diabetes and peripheral neuropathy continues to grow. But fewer people are familiar with the condition’s linkages to chronic alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, alcohol remains one of the most common causes of neuropathy. In fact, researchers believe upwards of 66 percent of individuals with chronic alcohol abuse also exhibit the symptoms of alcoholic polyneuropathy. 

Fortunately, knowledge can help your patients make better decisions when it comes to managing this condition. Keep reading for what your patients need to know about alcohol and peripheral neuropathy so that they can make better decisions about managing their health. 

​Peripheral neuropathy and sleep don’t always mix well. Sixty-eight percent of neuropathy patients report increased nerve pain at night, contributing to restlessness and sleep disruption. Moreover, neuropathy and sleep disturbance create a vicious cycle. Neuropathic pain causes sleep issues, and, in turn, lack of sleep exacerbates nerve discomfort.

How can you help your peripheral neuropathy patients avoid this terrible cycle, restoring their health and getting a better night’s sleep? Here’s what your patients need to know about how neuropathy impacts rest and what they can do to take back their lives and health. 

A long-term complication of diabetes for many people is the onset of peripheral neuropathy. This debilitating condition is caused by high blood sugar levels and leads to small blood vessel damage. When these injured blood vessels become impaired in their ability to supply nutrients and oxygen to nerve cells, neuropathic damage results. Lack of blood supply to critical areas can even contribute to nerve fiber disappearance. 

Nerve damage leads to loss of mobility, balance issues, reduced independence, and even driver’s license suspension. But it doesn’t have to be this way. As a pharmacist, you’re uniquely positioned to reach out to patients managing diabetes and conditions related to it. You can encourage them to stay independent longer and keep their licenses through education coupled with a proactive therapeutic regimen.   

​Here are some things your patients need to know about neuropathy and driving. 

As a pharmacist or convenient care clinician, you have many daily interactions with people caring for loved ones with neuropathy. Caretakers may range from spouses to children and friends of individuals who require extra help with their daily routine. Currently, one in three adults in the United States acts as informal caretakers, often providing care for individuals suffering from peripheral neuropathy. 

Here's how you can assist caregivers coping with neuropathy by providing them with valuable resources and information about the proven NeuropaCalm Care Program. 

Amputation isn’t a topic most people want to discuss. Yet, for individuals managing diabetes, it must be proactively addressed. Between 60 and 70 percent of people diagnosed with diabetes will develop peripheral neuropathy, a debilitating condition caused by nerve damage and poor circulation. Loss of sensation associated with the disease can lead to injuries and foot ulcers, with more than 800,000 new ulcer diagnoses yearly. Of those who suffer from foot ulcers, approximately 86,000 patients require foot amputations each year. 

​But the progression outlined above doesn’t represent an inevitability. And your patients with diabetes don’t have to become statistics. We’re here to tell you there is hope, and you can provide it to your patients. After all, it is possible to avoid amputation with the right education and care. 

Keep reading for everything your patients need to know about neuropathy and amputation.