- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa Davidson and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa Davidson is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 17 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) and health care education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.), Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
Latest entries
- Diabetes etiquette: When you don't have diabetes
May 2, 2013
- Coping with diabetes: Helping your loved one
April 24, 2013
- Types of diabetes
March 16, 2013
- Taking diabetes drugs
Feb. 27, 2013
- Insulin or medication?
Feb. 13, 2013
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Living with diabetes blog
-
June 19, 2010
Diabetic neuropathy can be painful complication
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
In the next few weeks, I'd like to focus on diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is the most common serious complication of diabetes. Many people with diabetes eventually develop some form of nerve damage, a condition known as diabetic neuropathy.
Depending on the affected nerves, symptoms of diabetic neuropathy can range from pain and numbness in your extremities to problems with your digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. For some people, these symptoms are mild; for others, diabetic neuropathy can be painful, disabling, and even fatal.
What causes neuropathy? The human body has a complex system of nerves running through it. These nerves connect your brain/spinal cord to nerves in muscles, skin, and other organs in your body. Through these nerves your brain senses sensations, such as pain and temperature. Also, these nerves control muscles, and other autonomic functions such as regulating the heart, digestion, bladder, sweating mechanism and blood pressure.
How does high blood sugar factor into this neuropathy? Prolonged exposure to high blood sugar (glucose) can damage delicate nerve fibers. High blood sugar interferes with the ability of nerves to transmit signals and also weakens the wall of small blood vessels that supply the nerves with oxygen and nutrients. Other factors that may contribute to diabetic neuropathy include: the immune system, genetic factors, smoking and alcohol abuse.
Blood sugar control is the key to preventing or slowing the development of diabetic neuropathy.
Next week I'll discuss peripheral neuropathy. This neuropathy damages nerves in feet, legs, arms and hands. A patient once told me that his feet hurt so much at night from the neuropathy pain, he would walk barefoot on the cold garage floor looking for relief. I'm not recommending this, but it's an example of how desperate people can get.
Please share your experiences with diabetic neuropathy.
Regards and have a great week,
Nancy
51 comments posted
Share on:
51 comments posted