3: Diabetic nerve pain

Diabetics may, over time, develop nerve disorders. Older people who have had diabetes for decades are most susceptible.

The diabetes may damage peripheral nerves and cause numbness and pain in the hands, legs and feet.

Prevention

Watching your diet and maintaining a healthy weight will keep diabetes in check and prevent the nerve pain from occurring.

Treatment

While medication can reduce pain, the main way to treat this is to bring the blood sugar levels back to normal as soon as possible.

Information from Dr Tan Kian Hian, director of Singapore General Hospital's Pain Management Centre; Dr James Low, senior consultant and head of the department of geriatric medicine at Alexandra Hospital; and Dr Jason Chia, consultant sports physician at Changi Sports Medicine Centre and Singapore Sports Medicine Centre.

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times.