Diabetes Complications: Nerve Damage

Diabetes can cause various complications throughout the body, including nerve damage or neuropathy. Neuropathy affects around 50% of people with diabetes and can lead to a loss of sensation or feeling in the affected areas.

There are four types of diabetic neuropathy:

1. Peripheral neuropathy: This affects the nerves in the limbs, feet, and hands. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation in the extremities, and may lead to foot ulcers and amputation.
2. Autonomic neuropathy: This affects the nerves that control the involuntary functions of the body, such as digestion, bladder and bowel control, and heart rate. Symptoms may include dizziness, low blood pressure, constipation or diarrhea, urinary incontinence, and sexual dysfunction.
3. Proximal neuropathy: This affects the nerves in the hips, buttocks, and thighs and can cause severe pain and weakness in the affected areas.
4. Focal neuropathy: This affects a specific nerve or group of nerves, leading to sudden weakness or pain in one area of the body.

To prevent neuropathy or slow its progression, it’s important for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels through medication, diet, and exercise. Additionally, good foot care, including daily foot checks, wearing appropriate footwear, and seeking prompt medical attention for foot problems, can help prevent or manage peripheral neuropathy. It’s also important for people with diabetes to undergo regular eye exams to check for signs of diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to vision loss.