Prof. Dr. Cornelia Bala: The prevalence of diabetic neuropathy has increased significantly

“Diabetic neuropathy has become a major public health problem, and its prevalence has increased significantly in recent decades, along with the increase in the number of people diagnosed with diabetes. The effects of diabetic neuropathy are seen in the quality of life, in the years of disability experienced by people with diabetes and diabetic neuropathy, in the costs to the health system, which highlight the need for early diagnosis and management to prevent complications.” stands up Prof. Dr. Cornelia BalaPresident of the Diabetic Neuropathy Society – Neurodiab, during the professional debate Diabetic Patient Hour on March 20, 2024.

The diabetologist also spoke about the importance of a close collaboration between family doctors, diabetologists and neurologists, for an effective management of diabetic neuropathy, highlighting the need for organization and standardization in patient care.

Optimizing neuropathy treatment: a must

Prof. Dr. Cornelia Bala addressed in his intervention the need to optimize the treatment of diabetes for the management of diabetic neuropathy, emphasizing: “A pathogenetically and symptomatically oriented therapeutic approach is necessary. Therapeutic options available for treating diabetic neuropathy include the use of alpha lipoic acid and benfotiamine, with well-documented evidence of their efficacy in relieving symptoms and improving patients’ quality of life. Comprehensive management of symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy, including available therapeutic options, is required.”

Alpha lipoic acid and benfotiamine are two well-known treatments for this condition, diabetic neuropathy, the doses being 600 mg per day, either orally or intravenously, for alpha lipoic acid, and benfotiamine in a dose of 300 mg. Prof. Dr. Cornelia Bala mentions that the recommended duration of intravenous therapy can be limited for reasons related to the number of days of hospitalization required.

The duration of treatment with alpha lipoic acid is recommended for the long term. The longest studies were 4 years and until this moment there are no major contraindications for long-term use, explained the diabetologist.

“For benfotiamine, use is indicated in a dose of 300 mg, and the duration of treatment may be shorter, due to some potential risks, especially related to interactions with other B vitamins”, REFERRED Prof. Dr. Cornelia Bala.

Taking off shoes: the barrier to diagnosing neuropathy

The final message of the diabetologist is a positive one: “If diabetic neuropathy affected the hands first, it would be very good, because a big barrier in the management of neuropathy is precisely the first gesture that allows you to make an early diagnosis, namely taking off the patient’s shoes and putting him on a consultation bed. We must, however, make this effort and the more often we meet, especially in an interdisciplinary format, the more slowly things will change in the practice of each of us. We will become more and more aware that there is a time that we must dedicate to this gesture, and from now on many benefits will be visible, starting with the chances of an early treatment, which can stop the evolution, sometimes inexorable towards ulcerations and amputations“.

About the Rodiabet Specialist Hour

meetings The time of the Rodiabet Specialist are professional debates dedicated to health professionals, organized periodically, on topics of interest to the diabetes community. The March 20 edition was organized with the support of the partner Worwag Pharma and addressed the topic of effective management of diabetic neuropathy.

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