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When diabetes causes damage to the nerves of the hands and feet, diabetic neuropathy occurs. Pain and numbness may result as a result. There are approximately 37 million Americans who suffer from diabetic neuropathy.

Among diabetic neuropathies, depression, anxiety, and insomnia are common, according to study author Erika Petersen, MD, of the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. There can be adverse reactions to medications or they can be ineffective. The only FDA-approved treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is spinal cord stimulation (Proclaim XR; Abbott).

The use of SCS, a form of neurostimulation therapy that delivers a specific amount of energy to the tissues to relieve pain, is now available as an alternative to opioids for the treatment of chronic pain in individuals with DPN.

An elevated blood sugar (glucose) level causes pain and numbness in the feet, hands, and legs. SCS is a better treatment than symptom management and behavior modification, despite being non-opioid. Apple devices manage spinal cord stimulation systems.

NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic (Abbott) provides the capability to communicate with doctors and adjust treatment remotely. As a result of spinal cord stimulation, patients with painful [DPNs] are able to achieve a better quality of life while incorporating the system more smoothly into their current lifestyles, according to Pope.

First approved in 2019, the spinal cord stimulation system is used to treat patients suffering from chronic pain. With the FDA's approval, patients with DPN can now receive low doses of stimulation for chronic pain-related symptoms.

It is also noteworthy that when the new system is used for low-dose treatment, the battery life is approximately 10 years. In conjunction with a charged controller and Wi-Fi or cellular connection, patients can adjust system settings from any location with a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. There are no clinical trials that show how dose-response curves compare. A spine surgeon or pain management specialist can refer patients with DPN interested in SCS.

As Abbott's vice president for neuromodulation noted in a press release, people with diabetes face many challenges every day. "Proclaim XR's new indication will allow physicians and patients to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain more effectively.