Condition Basics
What is diabetic neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by diabetes. People who have diabetes often have high blood sugar levels. Over time, this can damage nerves throughout your body.
There are several types of diabetic neuropathy.
- Peripheral neuropathy.
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This is damage to peripheral nerves. These nerves sense pain, touch, hot, and cold. They also affect movement and muscle strength. The nerves in the feet and lower legs are most often affected. This type of nerve damage can lead to serious foot problems. The damage usually gets worse slowly, over months or years.
- Autonomic neuropathy.
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This is damage to autonomic nerves. These nerves control things like your heartbeat, blood pressure, sweating, digestion, urination, and sexual function.
- Atypical neuropathies.
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These are types of nerve damage to one or more nerves in the body. One type affects just one nerve. This is called mononeuropathy. It often affects a nerve in the wrist or foot. It can also affect a nerve that controls the eye muscles. Another type affects many nerves. This is called polyradiculoneuropathy. It often affects nerves in the back and chest. These types of nerve damage happen all of a sudden. And they can get better with time.
What causes it?
Over time, high blood sugar levels from diabetes can damage nerves throughout your body. The higher your blood sugar levels, the more likely you are to have nerve damage. Also, the older you get and the longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to have nerve damage.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms depend on which nerves are injured. You may not be able to feel pain, especially in your feet. This can lead to serious infections if sores and other problems aren't treated. Other symptoms may include problems with digestion or urination, and blood vessel problems that can lead to poor circulation or low blood pressure.
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will check how well you can feel light touch and temperature and will test your strength and reflexes. Tests such as an electromyogram and nerve conduction studies may be done to confirm the diagnosis. Your doctor will want to know about any symptoms such as pain, weakness, or urinary or digestive problems.
How is diabetic neuropathy treated?
Treatment involves keeping blood sugar levels in your target range. This will not cure nerve damage. But it can help keep the damage from getting worse, and the pain might get better.
Other treatments depend on your symptoms. They may include:
- Medicines to treat pain, digestive problems, or blood vessel problems.
- Medicines or the use of compression stockings to treat blood pressure problems.
- Treatments for sexual problems. Medicines or devices may help improve erections. Or lubricating creams may help vaginal dryness.
- A splint or brace to help treat a nerve problem.
When you have diabetes, you could have a sore or other foot problem without noticing it. So check your feet every day. An untreated problem on your foot can lead to a serious infection or even amputation.
Work together with your doctor to find the treatment that helps you the most.
Can it be prevented?
Keeping your blood sugar levels in your target range recommended by your doctor may help prevent diabetic neuropathy. The best way to do this is by checking your blood sugar and adjusting your treatment. It's also important to get to and stay at a healthy weight by exercising and eating healthy foods.
