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Neuropathy & Pain

Frozen Shoulder and Diabetes: The Overlooked Complication That Can Steal Mobility

Woman with diabetes experiencing shoulder pain from diabetic shoulder adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder.

Diabetes complications are often discussed in terms of the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. However, diabetes can also affect joints and connective tissue. Adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, is one diabetes-related complication that deserves more attention. It can begin with ordinary shoulder pain and gradually make simple movements surprisingly difficult. …

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Beyond Pain Relief: Can Spinal Cord Stimulation Restore Sensation in Diabetic Neuropathy?

Medical illustration of spinal cord stimulation for diabetic neuropathy showing nerve pathways, foot sensation, and an implanted stimulator.

For people with painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), treatment has traditionally focused on controlling burning, stabbing, and shooting pain. However, emerging research on spinal cord stimulation for diabetic neuropathy raises a more intriguing question: Could neuromodulation also improve sensation? Results from the SENZA-PDN clinical trial suggest that some patients receiving high-frequency …

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GLP-1s and Opioids: The GI Risk Clinicians May Be Missing

GLP-1 medications and opioid therapy representing potential gastrointestinal risks from concurrent treatment.

GLP-1 receptor agonists have transformed the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but their effects on gastrointestinal motility remain an important clinical consideration. Opioids can also slow gastrointestinal function, raising an obvious question: what happens when patients need both? New research examining GLP-1 and opioid interactions suggests that opioid choice may …

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One Drug Isn’t Enough: When Should Clinicians Combine Treatments for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy?

Clinician discussing diabetic neuropathy pain treatment and combination therapy options with a patient using an anatomical foot model.

Finding the right diabetic neuropathy pain treatment can be challenging when a well-chosen first medication provides only partial relief. Burning, shooting pain, tingling, and allodynia can continue to disrupt sleep, mobility, mood, and daily function. Fortunately, clinicians do not always have to choose between abandoning a partially effective drug and …

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Why Are We Ignoring the Gold Standard for Healing Diabetic Foot Ulcers?

Clinician applying a knee-high offloading device to help treat a diabetic foot ulcer and reduce plantar pressure.

Diabetic foot ulcer offloading is one of the most important parts of treating a neuropathic plantar ulcer, yet the most effective approaches are still not routinely used. Non-removable knee-high devices, including total contact casts and non-removable walkers, can reduce damaging pressure while supporting wound healing. So why does a treatment …

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The Return of Aldose Reductase Inhibitors: Could an Old Idea Finally Pay Off?

A hand holding a diabetes medication tablet in front of an anatomical heart illustration with diabetic complication icons representing the nerves, retina, kidneys, and polyol pathway research.

Diabetes care has advanced dramatically over the past decade. While therapies such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors have transformed glucose management and cardiovascular outcomes, many patients continue to develop long-term complications. Could an older therapeutic target finally provide the missing piece? Interest in aldose reductase inhibitors for diabetes …

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Could We Predict Diabetic Neuropathy Years Before Symptoms Begin?

Illustration of IgG glycosylation biomarkers, laboratory blood analysis, and peripheral nerves representing early detection of diabetic neuropathy in people with diabetes.

Early detection has always been one of the biggest challenges in diabetes care. What if doctors could identify patients at high risk for diabetic neuropathy or kidney disease years before symptoms developed? That possibility is driving exciting new research into IgG glycosylation in diabetes, an emerging area that examines subtle …

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Could Hearing Loss Be an Early Warning Sign of Future Diabetes Complications?

Older adult experiencing hearing difficulty alongside medical imagery of blood vessels, ear anatomy, and glucose monitoring, illustrating the connection between hearing loss and diabetes complications.

For many people living with diabetes, complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy are well-recognized concerns. However, growing evidence suggests that hearing loss may deserve a place on that list as well. Researchers are increasingly examining whether hearing loss reflects the same vascular and neurologic damage that contributes to complications …

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Constipation, Bloating, and Diabetes: Could Autonomic Neuropathy Be the Cause?

Person with diabetes experiencing abdominal discomfort with a medical illustration showing autonomic nerve damage affecting colon function and gastrointestinal motility.

Many people with diabetes expect complications such as retinopathy, kidney disease, or peripheral neuropathy. However, gastrointestinal symptoms often receive far less attention despite their significant impact on quality of life. Chronic constipation, bloating, abdominal discomfort, and irregular bowel habits affect a substantial number of individuals living with diabetes. In many …

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