What is diabetic neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that
happens in people who have diabetes. This damage makes it hard for their
nerves to carry messages to the brain and other parts of the body. It
can cause numbness (loss of feeling) or painful tingling and burning in
parts of the body. Diabetic neuropathy can also cause:
- Muscle weakness and difficulty walking
- Bladder problems such as urinary tract infections and urinary
incontinence (the loss of bladder control)
- Digestive problems such as bloating, abdominal pain,
constipation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Erectile dysfunction (in men) and vaginal dryness (in women)
What causes diabetic neuropathy?
Diabetes causes the level of sugar in your blood to
be higher than normal. Over time, high blood sugar levels damage the
blood vessels and nerves. That's why people who don't control (or can't
control) their blood sugar very well seem more likely to get diabetic
neuropathy.
Men are more likely to have diabetic neuropathy than
women. High cholesterol levels and smoking also increase your risk.
What can I do to avoid diabetic neuropathy?
The most important thing is to keep your blood sugar
under control. Take your medicines and/or insulin exactly as your
doctor prescribes. Eat a healthy diet. If you
are overweight, ask your doctor to help you lose weight. Get plenty of exercise.
What are the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy?
The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy develop
gradually over time and include the following:
- Numbness, tingling or burning feelings in your fingers, toes,
hands and/or feet
- Sharp pain that is worse at night
- Cuts, sores or blisters on your feet that don't hurt as much as
you would expect, and that also heal very slowly
- Muscle weakness and difficulty walking
- Problems with the bladder (such as urinary tract infections and
urinary incontinence)
- Problems with the digestive system (such as bloating, abdominal
pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea)
- Erectile dysfunction (in men) and vaginal dryness (in women)
What will happen if the nerves in my legs and feet are damaged?
If diabetic neuropathy has damaged the nerves in
your legs and feet, you may not be able to feel pain in those parts of
your body. This is a problem because pain can be a useful signal. If you
have no feeling in your feet, you could have an injury and not know it.
In addition, your muscles might atrophy (decrease in size), and make it
difficult for you to walk. The skin on your feet might crack and
develop sores. If these sores do not heal or become infected, they might
need to be treated at a hospital. In severe cases, you may need to have
your foot amputated (removed). Because diabetes makes it harder for an
injury to heal, it's important to take good care of your feet and
prevent injuries in the first place.
How is diabetic neuropathy treated?
There is no cure for diabetic neuropathy. Treatment
focuses on slowing the development of the condition through controlling
blood sugar levels and making lifestyle changes. These lifestyle changes
not only help slow nerve damage, but also promote overall health. They
include:
- Eating a healthy diet
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Controlling blood pressure
- Not smoking
- Limiting alcohol use
Treatment for diabetic neuropathy also focuses on
relieving pain and discomfort. There are several medicines available
that help ease neuropathy pain. Your doctor will help you decide which
is the best for you.
