Managing Nerve Damage Caused by Diabetes

You may have heard of a diabetes complication called diabetic neuropathy. This is when long-term high blood sugar (glucose) levels cause nerve damage. It happens in around 50% of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Nerves control movement, sensation, and other functions in the body. When they’re affected by neuropathy, symptoms can range from pain and numbness in the legs and hands to problems with the digestion, urinary problems, and heart and circulation issues. The symptoms can be mild, but in some cases, they’re painful and disabling.

Types of Diabetic Neuropathy

Every set of nerves has a specific function, so symptoms will depend on the type of nerves affected. The most common types of diabetic neuropathy are:

Sensory Neuropathy

Sensory neuropathy is damage to the nerves that receive and interpret sensations like hot, cold, pressure, and pain. The nerve damage causes a disturbance in these sensations resulting in tingling or burning feelings in the limbs, reduced ability to feel pain, or sharp jabbing pain that may be worse at night.

There may also be a decreased sensation or numbness, muscle weakness, and serious problems like foot ulcers. Often, the first areas affected are the legs, followed by the hands. Sensory neuropathy can also affect other areas of your body.

Motor Neuropathy

Damage to motor nerves is often combined with sensory neuropathy. The damaged nerves have difficulty sending signals to the muscles that move the body, affecting a person’s ability to coordinate movement, particularly walking.

With motor neuropathy, a person’s hands, arms, and feet may feel weak, numb, and painful. Weakness and reduced sensation in the muscles of the feet may lead to unbalanced pressure on the ankle which can lead to changes in the foot as well.

Autonomic Neuropathy

The autonomic nervous system controls the involuntary functions of your body. Damage to the autonomic nerves can affect the heart and circulatory system, the digestive system, the bladder and urinary tract, sexual function, kidneys, and vision.

Symptoms may include a faster heartbeat, changes in blood pressure causing dizziness or lightheadedness, digestive problems, difficulty regulating temperature, sweating, lack of awareness of low blood glucose, erectile dysfunction, or urinary problems.

Signs of Diabetic Neuropathy to Look Out For

Symptoms of nerve damage usually develop slowly. You may not notice problems until considerable damage has occurred. It’s important to tell your healthcare practitioner right away if you notice any symptoms or changes to your body. This includes trouble healing cuts or sores on your feet, changes in digestion or urination, and feeling dizzy or faint.

Starting treatment right away can reduce damage and help to slow down the onset of complications.

Risk Factors for Diabetic Neuropathy

Several factors can put people at higher risk for nerve damage due to diabetes:

• Extended periods of high blood sugar
• Living with diabetes for many years
• Being overweight
• Being over 40 years of age
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol

Keeping your blood sugar within your target range, a healthy diet, and regular exercise, have been shown to significantly lower the risk of developing diabetic neuropathy.

Treatment for Diabetic Neuropathy

Keeping your blood sugar under control and living a healthy lifestyle can also help manage diabetic neuropathy, if you have it. That includes eating healthy, staying active, not smoking, and getting enough sleep.

Work with your doctor to find ways to manage pain and other symptoms caused by diabetic neuropathy. This may include:

• Medication to control diabetes
• Medication to manage pain
• Transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy
• Relaxation training
• Biofeedback training
• Acupuncture
• Hypnosis

With proper care, diabetic neuropathy can often be prevented or slowed down.