Why are Diabetics Prone to Nerve Compression?
Metabolic neuropathy: Diabetic nerve compression is primarily a result of metabolic imbalances in the nerve making the nerves swollen resulting in tightness by the surrounding anatomy which results in increased pain on top of the original neuropathy. Consequently, one of the main reason’s why a diabetic’s nerves are susceptible to compression is because the nerves in a diabetic are swollen. Sugar from the blood enters the nerve, just like it enters other cells, to give it energy. This sugar, glucose, is converted to another sugar called sorbitol. Sorbitol’s chemical nature makes it highly attractive to water molecules, and so water is drawn into the nerve causing it to swell. If the nerve swells in a place that is already tight, like the anatomic regions described previously, then the nerve becomes pinched or compressed, resulting in symptoms of numbness and tingling. Transport Mechanisms: The second reason for swelling is related to the transport systems within the diabetic nerve. The
