Which sport is recommended?

Even with a polyneuropathy one can and should even do sports. It is important to choose a sport that is rather gentle and does not cause pain to the person affected. Regular exercise positively stimulates the nerves, which can lead to an improvement in symptoms in the long term.

Suitable sports for polyneuropathy are, for example, swimming, cycling, water gymnastics, yoga or Pilates. Ultimately, the patients themselves and in consultation with the treating physician must determine which type of sport is best suited to the individual symptoms. The article “Vibration training” might also be of interest to you in this context.

Diabetic Polyneuropathy

Nerve damage is a common secondary disease in diabetes mellitus. Due to the high blood sugar level, the cell damage also causes damage to the nerve endings. The damage can affect both the peripheral nerve endings, which are responsible for the perception of heat, cold and pain, and the vegetative nerve endings, which control the functions of many organs.

Furthermore, diabetic polyneuropathy is the main cause of the well-known diabetic foot, since injuries to the feet go unnoticed for a long time due to a reduced sensation of pain. Symptoms of neuropathy in diabetes include numbness, reduced sensation of warmth and cold, reduced pain, tingling sensation on the skin, and burning or biting pain. If nerves of the autonomic nervous system are affected, depending on the organ, pulse changes, gastrointestinal problems or bladder weakness may occur.

The cause of diabetic polyneuropathy is considered to be a poorly adjusted blood sugar level. For patients with diabetes it is therefore important to have annual check-ups to detect nerve damage at an early stage. The doctor checks among other things: In the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy, the main aim is to stop the further development and to alleviate existing complaints. Of course, even more attention must be paid to a good blood sugar level setting and the avoidance of risk factors such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.

The sensitivity to pain
Reflexes
Pressure and touch sensitivity
Temperature sensation