The treatment of diabetic autonomic neuropathy is focused on controlling blood glucose and modulating autonomic function.
Patients with diabetes are prone to damage to the autonomic nerves and autonomic neuropathy due to poor long-term blood glucose control.
Autonomic neuropathy in patients with diabetes can occur before or after the diagnosis of diabetes. The presence of autonomic neuropathy is generally indicative of poor glycemic control, a long duration of disease, and a poor prognosis in patients with diabetes.
Symptoms of autonomic neuropathy vary depending on the system involved, such as genitourinary system involvement, including urinary incontinence, urinary retention, hypogonadism, and menstrual disorders or amenorrhea; cardiovascular system involvement, including tachycardia, upright hypotension, and myocardial ischemia; and gastrointestinal system involvement, including bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. Some can also involve the skin system, causing itching, excessive sweating, little or no sweating.
For diabetic autonomic neuropathy, treatment first requires a proper diet, increased exercise, weight control, and good control of blood glucose; at the same time, oral medications such as glutathione and vitamin B1 can be taken to regulate autonomic function.