Treatments for Balance Problems

Trish said:

My brother believes he heard a snippet of a report about
laser treatment for diabetics with balance problems. I can
find nothing about this on the web sites nor on Medline.
Are any of you familiar with this - or with any other
treatment for balance problems? Thanks for your help. Trish

Quote

Suitability For Laser Eye Treatment All levels of glasses
prescriptions are now treatable. With the exception of cases
of eye diseases, most people will now be suitable for
treatment with ICL's.

If you have previously been refused, please check again as
we can now treat severe short sight, long sight and
astigmatism.

You should be suitable for laser eye treatment if you are
healthy and over 21 years old.

We do not normally recommend laser eye treatment for very
low levels of eyesight correction, i.e. -0.75 dioptre or
unless combined with astigmatism.

Your eyesight should not have changed significantly within
the last year, as your eye sight problem may still be
getting worse.

There is no upper age limit, although older patients with
low levels of short sight will need reading glasses and
laser eye treatment may not be desirable

We can treat diabetics who are well controlled and do not
have damaged retinas (retinopathy)

Unquote

Reference: optimax.co.ukamisuitable.htmlOpen ↗

[Took 20 seconds]

Pete

Diagnosed 20/03/03 Type II D&E + Metformin + Gliclazide MR
+ Asprin 210lbs at Dx to BMI 166lbs achieved. To mail: aspen
at freeuk.com

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 01:18:38 -0700, "Trish" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

My brother believes he heard a snippet of a report about
laser treatment for diabetics with balance problems. I can
find nothing about this on the web sites nor on Medline.
Are any of you familiar with this - or with any other
treatment for balance problems?

Thanks for your help.

Trish

is the balance problem even related to the diabetes? isn't
that an inner ear problem?

Mack©® Type 1 since 1975 alt-support-diabetes.orgalt-support-diabetes.orgOpen ↗
insulin-pumpers.orginsulin-pumpers.orgOpen ↗

In tribute to the United States of America and the State of
Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with
strife and terrorism.

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the
President, or that we are to stand by the President
right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile,
but is morally treasonable to the American public."

...Theodore Roosevelt

"Trish" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My brother believes he heard a snippet of a report about
laser treatment

for

Quoted message said:

diabetics with balance problems. I can find nothing about
this on the web sites nor on Medline. Are any of you
familiar with this - or with any

other

Quoted message said:

treatment for balance problems?

Thanks for your help.

Trish

Hi there Trish,

I had a quick browse in Medscape, and about the only thing
that seemed even close was the study that showed that people
who had diabetes for quite some time were statistically more
likely to suffer fractures from falls and other accidents
than non-diabetics, or those who had been only recently
dx'd. See: medscape.com461969Open ↗

"The risk likely grew over time because of the increased
number (and increasing severity) of comorbidities and
complications due to diabetes, Dr. de Laet said. For
instance, diabetic eye-related problems could contribute to
a greater number of falls, thus contributing to increased
fracture risk. Vascular disease could contribute to fracture
risk too. The study is an observational one, and direct
causes for increased fracture risk are still not known, he
said. The researchers did not describe or link specific
complications or comorbidities associated with fractures.

Clifford Rosen, MD, professor of nutrition at the University
of Maine, told Medscape that for physicians, "the message
would be to think of bone density but don't ever exclude the
possibility of other risk factors, particularly family
history and metabolic control of diabetes."

The less diabetes is controlled, the more likely there will
be neuropathy along with balance problems, he said."

"Along with balance problems"? What does that mean? I don't
know, he doesn't say.

But this could also connect with having laser treatment for
the EYES (diabetic retinopathy treatment). As you say, your
brother only caught a snippet.

I would certainly think that peripheral neuropathy could
affect ones balance as well, if either of the feet are
unsensitive, then one could easily be more likely to trip
on, or not notice, uneven ground.

I have not come across any articles indicating that the
inner ear could be affected by diabetes, but I suppose it is
possible. Then again, where would laser therapy fit in?

Annette

Part of my physical therapy for assorted leg & joint
problems includes balance exercises. I don't have a
balance problem, but these exercises can be quite
challenging. They help strengthen a lot of little muscles
you're not even aware of, that the regular focussed
exercises don't do so much for.

I've seen people at p.t. who are doing similar exercises for
balance & other problems they already have. bj

"Trish" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My brother believes he heard a snippet of a report about
laser treatment

for

Quoted message said:

diabetics with balance problems. I can find nothing about
this on the web sites nor on Medline. Are any of you
familiar with this - or with any

other

Quoted message said:

treatment for balance problems?

Thanks for your help.

Trish

Annette said:

"Trish" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My brother believes he heard a snippet of a report about
laser treatment

for

Quoted message said:

diabetics with balance problems. I can find nothing about
this on the web sites nor on Medline. Are any of you
familiar with this - or with any

other

Quoted message said:

treatment for balance problems?

Thanks for your help.

Trish

Hi there Trish,

I had a quick browse in Medscape, and about the only thing
that seemed even close was the study that showed that
people who had diabetes for quite some time were
statistically more likely to suffer fractures from falls
and other accidents than non-diabetics, or those who had
been only recently dx'd. See:
medscape.com461969Open ↗

"The risk likely grew over time because of the increased
number (and increasing severity) of comorbidities and
complications due to diabetes, Dr. de Laet said. For
instance, diabetic eye-related problems could contribute to
a greater number of falls, thus contributing to increased
fracture risk. Vascular disease could contribute to
fracture risk too. The study is an observational one, and
direct causes for increased fracture risk are still not
known, he said. The researchers did not describe or link
specific complications or comorbidities associated with
fractures.

Clifford Rosen, MD, professor of nutrition at the
University of Maine, told Medscape that for physicians,
"the message would be to think of bone density but don't
ever exclude the possibility of other risk factors,
particularly family history and metabolic control of
diabetes."

The less diabetes is controlled, the more likely there will
be neuropathy along with balance problems, he said."

"Along with balance problems"? What does that mean? I don't
know, he doesn't say.

But this could also connect with having laser treatment for
the EYES (diabetic retinopathy treatment). As you say, your
brother only caught a snippet.

I would certainly think that peripheral neuropathy could
affect ones balance as well, if either of the feet are
unsensitive, then one could easily be more likely to trip
on, or not notice, uneven ground.

I have not come across any articles indicating that the
inner ear could be affected by diabetes, but I suppose it
is possible. Then again, where would laser therapy fit
in? Annette

in addition - from personal experience - I lost most of my
weight quite quickly and as a result I was 'off balance'
walking etc. I would stumble on uneven surfaces and this
surprised me since I am blessed with better than average
balance/motor control. I sought advice from a
Physiotherapist who pondered over this event and contancted
me a few days later. All the time my body was carrying the
extra weight, my muscles got used to moving in a certain way
to accommodate that weight. Once it was gone then my body
had to learn a new accommodation to cater for the lack of
weight, less effort etc. Maintaining balance requires minute
hardly perceptible muscle contractions/expansions which you
are hardly aware off until the motor input is either
disrupted or the values change. There are also skeletal
issues involved as well and this is all independant of the
inner ear.

After about a month this novel effect disappeared without me
even noticing it. Thinking back, at the time I just knew
that climbing a ladder was a stupid thing to do. Somewhere
in the back of my mind I lacked the confidence. I just knew
I would fall. That is not the case now and I frequently find
myself up a ladder.

Try walking about with a 50lb pack on your back for 8 hours
and then take it off. The effect is the same but more
rapidly noticed and felt.

Also, If you have Neuropathy then by definition the loss
of feeling in the feet for example will hinder the
minute signals which are used unconsciously to maintain
errect balance.

H&S in UK warns against Diabetics climbing ladders in the
work place because of this and the fact that you can have it
without noticing to a degree where it will severely effect
your body's ability to counteract moment changes. That is 'a
degradation of sensory signal = lack of or slowness of
response'. If you are 30 foot up a ladder balancing on one
leg then you do not need that. It'd be similar in effect to
climbing a ladder when [censored] out of your skull.

Pete

Diagnosed 20/03/03 Type II D&E + Metformin + Gliclazide MR
+ Asprin 210lbs at Dx to BMI 166lbs achieved. To mail: aspen
at freeuk.com

"Trish" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My brother believes he heard a snippet of a report about
laser treatment

for

Quoted message said:

diabetics with balance problems. I can find nothing about
this on the web sites nor on Medline. Are any of you
familiar with this - or with any

other

Quoted message said:

treatment for balance problems?

Thanks for your help.

Nope. Never heard of it.

--
Type 2 users.bestweb.net~jboveOpen ↗

"Mack©®" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

is the balance problem even related to the diabetes? isn't
that an inner ear problem?

Neuropathy in the feet and legs can cause balance problems
because you can't feel the ground/floor beneath you,
therefore you can't tell where you are in relation to things
around you. I usually do pretty well during the day if I'm
on flat ground and have things around me to use as visual
clues, such as walls, sidewalks, hedges, etc. But get me
outside at night and I feel like I'm spinning and falling.
It's horrible! The Neurologist said this is because I don't
have those visual clues to help me realize where I am in
relation to things around me. I've also been known to fall
down during the day when I step from one surface to another
that's as little as 1/2" different in height. Any little
thing can throw me off. Got a pair of walking shoes that is
supposed to be one of the best, but couldn't stand up
straight in them because the height of the sole/heel was too
high for me. And they really weren't all that high. But when
I put them on, it was all I could do to stand up in them,
let alone walk!

--
Type 2 users.bestweb.net~jboveOpen ↗

Julie, Have you ever tried a rocker board? A friend of mine
said his wife's balance got so bad that she was almost wheel
chair bound. At a picnic, a neurologist, who sat across the
table from them, suggest that he make a rocker board for his
wife and have her stand on it with her eyes open and then
close. Make sure your husband has his arms around you w/o
touching but in case you start to fall he can catch you. Bob
said he started with 1/4" rockers. Also, she had to do it in
her bare feet in order to stimulate the sensors in the
bottom of her feet. Well, he timed his wife and at first she
couldn't even get on the board. So he held her, in about two
weeks she could stand for 5 sec. w/o being held. It's been a
year and now she can go up and down much better. So, maybe
it's worth a try for U. Good Luck.

"Julie Bove" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Mack©®" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

is the balance problem even related to the diabetes?
isn't that an inner ear problem?

Neuropathy in the feet and legs can cause balance problems
because you

can't

Quoted message said:

feel the ground/floor beneath you, therefore you can't
tell where you are

in

Quoted message said:

relation to things around you. I usually do pretty well
during the day if I'm on flat ground and have things
around me to use as visual clues, such

as

Quoted message said:

walls, sidewalks, hedges, etc. But get me outside at night
and I feel

like

Quoted message said:

I'm spinning and falling. It's horrible! The Neurologist
said this is because I don't have those visual clues to
help me realize where I am in relation to things around
me. I've also been known to fall down during

the

Quoted message said:

day when I step from one surface to another that's as
little as 1/2" different in height. Any little thing can
throw me off. Got a pair of walking shoes that is supposed
to be one of the best, but couldn't stand

up

Quoted message said:

straight in them because the height of the sole/heel was
too high for me. And they really weren't all that high.
But when I put them on, it was all

I

Quoted message said:

could do to stand up in them, let alone walk!

--
Type 2 users.bestweb.net~jboveOpen ↗

"Pete" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

<snip>

Quoted message said:

H&S in UK warns against Diabetics climbing ladders in the
work place because of this and the fact that you can have
it without noticing to a degree where it will severely
effect your body's ability to counteract moment changes.
That is 'a degradation of sensory signal = lack of or
slowness of response'. If you are 30 foot up a ladder
balancing on one leg then you do not need that. It'd be
similar in effect to climbing a ladder when [censored] out of
your skull.

Our dining room light fixture is one of those old glass ones
with screws in the side. I think at one point, they were
merely screws that could be turned by hand, but two of them
fell out and now the thing is held up by only one screw that
requires a screwdriver. For some reason, the bulb in that
socket always burns out within a month or two of putting it
in. Repair has looked at it many times and can't find the
problem. They keep telling me they'll get me a new fixture,
but that never happens. In the meantime, I am terrified to
have to change that bulb. I do have a step ladder, but I
don't want to try standing on it because I would have to
stand on the second rung and they are skinny rungs. So I
stand on a chair. But that's not good for me either. I have
trouble getting on and off the chair and once up there, I
have nothing to hang onto for balance. Not only that,
because of the design of the fixture, I must use both hands
to get the cover off. My husband has managed to change the
bulb once, but most of the time when I ask him to do it, he
gives up, claiming he can't get the cover off or back on
again. Granted, it's not easy to do, but at least he has
good balance. When we buy our new house, I will be sure to
check out the light fixtures and make sure they're suitable!

--
Type 2 users.bestweb.net~jboveOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Neuropathy in the feet and legs can cause balance problems
because you can't feel the ground/floor beneath you,
therefore you can't tell where you are in relation to
things around you. I usually do pretty well during the day
if I'm on flat ground and have things around me to use as
visual clues, such as walls, sidewalks, hedges, etc. But
get me outside at night and I feel like I'm spinning and
falling. It's horrible! The Neurologist said this is

Add me to that list as well ... although you seem to be a
bit worse than I am, I have definitely lost the "fine"
location/vertical sensation in my feet and ankles - with my
eyes closed I *must* have at least a fingertip on something
solid to maintain proper balance. (Quite awkward when
towellling the head after a shower, and I think of a
bathroom as one of the scarier places to fall - all those
*hard* surfaces etc). Night doesn't trouble me - I suppose
because there's still *some* visual clues being as "night"
doesn't quite equate to "pitch black" ..

I also find it awkward when something catches on my foot -
under normal conditions I used to feel the object and make a
quick recovery- now I must just about trip over first.

The way I understand it is the small signals are attenuated,
and by the time the stronger signals are received from
either the ears or the higher parts of the legs, I'm already
past the point where normally small muscle movement would
have corrected the problem more easily.

Quoted message said:

day when I step from one surface to another that's as
little as 1/2" different in height. Any little thing can
throw me off.

I haven't got that far (yet, I suppose) but I have stumbled
badly going down outdoor steps because the back of my heel
struck the edge of the previous step and I knew nothing
until I was already off-balance.

Quoted message said:

walking shoes that is supposed to be one of the best, but
couldn't stand up straight in them because the height of
the sole/heel was too high for me.

What *really* frustrates me about this is the problem it
causes with stepladders - being unstable is *much* scarier
when you're above ground level ....

It seems to me that with this condition it becomes necessary
to emulate a person with two wooden legs - *always* be hyper-
aware of the feet and whats going on around/under them ...

--

]- "I am a man of many parts, ]- unfortunately most of them
are no longer in stock" ]-
------------------------------------------------------------
----------
To reply by e-mail, move the Gnu from the address to the
subject line.
------------------------------------------------------------
----------

Quoted message said:

rocker board for his wife and have her stand on it with her
eyes open and

Sounds like a sensible idea - if nothing else it might
retrain the brain to read the other balance sensors (ear
drums etc) a little more sensitively - worth a try, I'd say.

I'm assuming by "rocker board" you mean a board with a
roller under the middle that can tilt left or right as the
weight shifts from side to side ??

--

]- "I am a man of many parts, ]- unfortunately most of them
are no longer in stock" ]-
------------------------------------------------------------
----------
To reply by e-mail, move the Gnu from the address to the
subject line.
------------------------------------------------------------
----------

Quoted message said:

only one screw that requires a screwdriver. For some
reason, the bulb in that socket always burns out within a
month or two of putting it in. Repair has looked at it many
times and can't find the problem. They keep telling

I don't know if this has any relevance to your problem, but
I've had similiar problems in the past with fittings that
are only rated for a 60 watt bulb, and some idiot has
insisted on using 100 watt bulbs - generally a closed
fitting (which your's sounds like) can only easily dissipate
a certain amount of heat - put in a higher wattage bulb than
the fitting is rated for and everything overheats, which can
shorten the life of the filament because now the bulb also
gets too hot .....

Unless you already have a very low wattage bulb in that
fitting, it can't hurt to try going down - say from 100 to
60 ... or perhaps get on of those new(ish) power-saving
things - they produce less heat for the same amount of light
if you really can't do with less light at that point. Yes,
they cost more, but usually last a lot longer, and if they
solve your problem, the extra cost would be well worth it ..

Quoted message said:

there, I have nothing to hang onto for balance. Not only
that, because of the design of the fixture, I must use both
hands to get the cover off. My husband has managed to
change the bulb once, but most of the time when I ask him
to do it, he gives up, claiming he can't get the cover off
or back on

Can't he at least stand behind you with his hands on your
back or waist to give you something to balance against ???

--

]- "I am a man of many parts, ]- unfortunately most of them
are no longer in stock" ]-
------------------------------------------------------------
----------
To reply by e-mail, move the Gnu from the address to the
subject line.
------------------------------------------------------------
----------

Julie Bove said:

"Mack©®" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

is the balance problem even related to the diabetes?
isn't that an inner ear problem?

Neuropathy in the feet and legs can cause balance problems
because you can't feel the ground/floor beneath you,
therefore you can't tell where you are in relation to
things around you. I usually do pretty well during the day
if I'm on flat ground and have things around me to use as
visual clues, such as walls, sidewalks, hedges, etc. But
get me outside at night and I feel like I'm spinning and
falling. It's horrible! The Neurologist said this is
because I don't have those visual clues to help me realize
where I am in relation to things around me. I've also been
known to fall down during the day when I step from one
surface to another that's as little as 1/2" different in
height. Any little thing can throw me off. Got a pair of
walking shoes that is supposed to be one of the best, but
couldn't stand up straight in them because the height of
the sole/heel was too high for me. And they really weren't
all that high. But when I put them on, it was all I could
do to stand up in them, let alone walk!

must be an individual thing. I have neuropathy in my feet, I
also work at night walking long distance in unlit areas with
no problems. I had no problems walking while wearing
bandages on my eyes after surgery.

thanks for the info.

Mack©® Type 1 since 1975 alt-support-diabetes.orgalt-support-diabetes.orgOpen ↗
insulin-pumpers.orginsulin-pumpers.orgOpen ↗

In tribute to the United States of America and the State of
Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with
strife and terrorism.

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the
President, or that we are to stand by the President
right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile,
but is morally treasonable to the American public."

...Theodore Roosevelt

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 17:01:12 -0400, "Julie Bove"
<[email hidden]> wrote: <snip>

Quoted message said:

In the meantime, I am terrified to have to change
that bulb.

<snip>

Julie - I understand what you were saying, but use some
lateral thinking.

Buy a standard lamp that sits on the floor behind your
chair.

Cheers, Alan, T2 d&e, Australia.
--
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.

"Hairy Antelope" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

- put in a higher wattage bulb than the fitting is rated
for and everything overheats, which can shorten the
life of the filament because now the bulb also gets too
hot .....

It's also a serious fire hazzard. bj

"Evon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Julie, Have you ever tried a rocker board? A friend of
mine said his wife's

balance

Quoted message said:

got so bad that she was almost wheel chair bound. At a
picnic, a neurologist, who sat across the table from them,
suggest that he make a rocker board for his wife and have
her stand on it with her eyes open and then close. Make
sure your husband has his arms around you w/o touching

but

Quoted message said:

in case you start to fall he can catch you. Bob said he
started with 1/4" rockers. Also, she had to do it in her
bare feet in order to stimulate the sensors in the bottom
of her feet. Well, he timed his wife and at first

she

Quoted message said:

couldn't even get on the board. So he held her, in about
two weeks she

could

Quoted message said:

stand for 5 sec. w/o being held. It's been a year and now
she can go up

and

Quoted message said:

down much better. So, maybe it's worth a try for U.
Good Luck.

No, and I don't think that's something I could do. I have
more problems than just Neuropathy. The veins in my legs are
bad and I have to wear compression stockings or the pain and
swelling is unbearable. So bare feet are out for me. I also
have Fibromyalgia. One good thing I do have going for me is
that my background is in dance. In ballet, you do all sorts
of things to help with your balance. These tricks can help
me a lot, but only during the day time because they rely on
visual cues. I think if I didn't have that going for me, I'd
be even worse off. I did try a wheelchair at one point, but
the motion of the wheelchair made me so dizzy, I had to get
out of it.

--
Type 2 users.bestweb.net~jboveOpen ↗

"Hairy Antelope" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Add me to that list as well ... although you seem to be a
bit worse than I am, I have definitely lost the "fine"
location/vertical sensation in my feet and ankles - with
my eyes closed I *must* have at least a fingertip on
something solid to maintain proper balance. (Quite awkward
when towellling the head after a shower, and I think of a
bathroom as one of the scarier places to fall - all those
*hard* surfaces etc). Night doesn't trouble me - I suppose
because there's still *some* visual clues being as "night"
doesn't quite equate to "pitch black" ..

At one point, taking a shower was horrible for me. I felt
like somone was pulling my lower half one direction and my
upper half the other direction. It was very difficult for me
to get myself under the spray of water. The showers are a
little easier for me now, but I've learned that I must
shower very quickly. I can't wear my compression hose in the
shower, so my feet and legs begin to swell. That doesn't
help because it's the same sensation as walking on an
underfilled water bed.

Quoted message said:

I also find it awkward when something catches on my foot -
under normal conditions I used to feel the object and make
a quick recovery- now I must just about trip over first.

Yep. I'm always getting after my daughter because she tends
to leave toys and things on the floor. I've tripped over the
tiniest little things.

Quoted message said:

The way I understand it is the small signals are
attenuated, and by the time the stronger signals are
received from either the ears or the higher parts of
the legs, I'm already past the point where normally
small muscle movement would have corrected the problem
more easily.

That could be.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

day when I step from one surface to another that's as
little as 1/2" different in height. Any little thing can
throw me off.

I haven't got that far (yet, I suppose) but I have
stumbled badly going down outdoor steps because the back
of my heel struck the edge of the previous step and I knew
nothing until I was already off-balance.

Steps are very hard for me. I've learned to go down them
sideways. That way if I fall, I fall into the steps and not
down them.

Quoted message said:

What *really* frustrates me about this is the problem it
causes with stepladders - being unstable is *much* scarier
when you're above ground level ....

Yep!

Quoted message said:

It seems to me that with this condition it becomes
necessary to emulate a person with two wooden legs -
*always* be hyper-aware of the feet and whats going on
around/under them ...

Exactly!

--
Type 2 users.bestweb.net~jboveOpen ↗

"Mack©®" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

must be an individual thing. I have neuropathy in my feet,
I also work at night walking long distance in unlit areas
with no problems. I had no problems walking while wearing
bandages on my eyes after surgery.

Well, I do have other medical problems that could also
affect my balance and those were not diagnosed at the time
the Neuropathy was diagnosed. So it could be that the
Neurologist assumed that my problems related to that. Or
it could be the area/degree of damage I have is different
than yours.

--
Type 2 users.bestweb.net~jboveOpen ↗

Thanks a lot, Annette, for researching this for me. (And
thanks to everyone for inputting all their personal
experiences!) Unfortunately my brother's doc say his retina
is beyond laser treatment. I'm thinking bj's physical
therapy exercises may help though. Bj, were you using a
swiss ball? I a google search turned up a number of
applications of the swiss ball in physical therapy to
promote balance. This is one of them:
carolinecreager.comtipofmonthshoulderpress.htmlOpen ↗
. And the balance board (with a partner) sounds like it has
potential too. Thanks again to everyone!

Trish.

"Annette" <[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
berlin.de...

Quoted message said:

"Trish" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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My brother believes he heard a snippet of a report about
laser treatment

for

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diabetics with balance problems. I can find nothing
about this on the

web

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sites nor on Medline. Are any of you familiar with this
- or with any

other

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treatment for balance problems?

Thanks for your help.

Trish

Hi there Trish,

I had a quick browse in Medscape, and about the only thing
that seemed

even

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close was the study that showed that people who had
diabetes for quite

some

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time were statistically more likely to suffer fractures
from falls and

other

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accidents than non-diabetics, or those who had been only
recently dx'd. See:
medscape.com461969Open ↗

"The risk likely grew over time because of the increased
number (and increasing severity) of comorbidities and
complications due to diabetes,

Dr.

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de Laet said. For instance, diabetic eye-related problems
could contribute to a greater number of falls, thus
contributing to increased fracture

risk.

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Vascular disease could contribute to fracture risk too.
The study is an observational one, and direct causes for
increased

fracture

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risk are still not known, he said. The researchers did not
describe or

link

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specific complications or comorbidities associated with
fractures.

Clifford Rosen, MD, professor of nutrition at the
University of Maine,

told

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Medscape that for physicians, "the message would be to
think of bone

density

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but don't ever exclude the possibility of other risk
factors, particularly family history and metabolic control
of diabetes."

The less diabetes is controlled, the more likely there
will be neuropathy along with balance problems, he said."

"Along with balance problems"? What does that mean? I
don't know, he doesn't say.

But this could also connect with having laser treatment
for the EYES (diabetic retinopathy treatment). As you say,
your brother only caught a snippet.

I would certainly think that peripheral neuropathy could
affect ones

balance

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as well, if either of the feet are unsensitive, then one
could easily be more likely to trip on, or not notice,
uneven ground.

I have not come across any articles indicating that the
inner ear could be affected by diabetes, but I suppose it
is possible. Then again, where

would

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laser therapy fit in?

Annette