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Diabetes & Nerve Damage

Elevated blood glucose levels may directly damage nerves and the small blood vessels. This can cause a decrease in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients that keep the nerve cells healthy.

Nerve damage can affect any part of your body, causing neuropathy. There are several different types with different symptoms and effects. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse lists the types of neuropathies and their effects:

• Peripheral neuropathy, the most common type of diabetic neuropathy, causes pain or loss of feeling in the toes, feet, legs, hands, and arms.
• Autonomic neuropathy causes changes in digestion, bowel and bladder function, sexual response, and perspiration. It can also affect the nerves that serve the heart and control blood pressure, as well as nerves in the lungs and eyes. Autonomic neuropathy can also cause hypoglycemia unawareness, a condition in which people no longer experience the warning symptoms of low blood glucose levels.
• Proximal neuropathy causes pain in the thighs, hips, or buttocks and leads to weakness in the legs.
• Focal neuropathy results in the sudden weakness of one nerve or a group of nerves, causing muscle weakness or pain. Any nerve in the body can be affected.

How do I know if I have nerve damage?

Some people with nerve damage have no symptoms, but for others, the first sign is often tingling, numbness, or pain in the feet.

Peripheral neuropathy, the most common type, affects the nerves in the arms and legs. When nerves are damaged, you may feel abnormal sensations (tingling), painful sensations (burning or stabbing), or no feeling at all (numbness).

Peripheral neuropathy can also lead to muscle weakness and loss of reflexes. These changes may lead to problems with your balance and with walking.

Your healthcare provider can diagnose peripheral neuropathy by conducting a physical exam of your feet. Experts recommend that people with diabetes have a comprehensive foot exam every year to check for peripheral neuropathy.

A comprehensive foot exam checks the skin, muscles, bones, circulation, and sensation of the feet. It’s important to check sensation in the feet because if you lose feeling, you might be at risk for developing foot sores and other problems.

How do I prevent nerve damage?

The first step in the treatment or prevention of a diabetic neuropathy is to maintain blood glucose within your target range.

Good control of blood glucose levels can delay the development of diabetic neuropathy in people with diabetes.

Start taking steps to manage your diabetes, and prevent the development of nerve damage.

For additional information on diabetic neuropathies, go to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.