Diabetic neuropathy what is it

Standards of medical care in diabetes — Diabetes Care. Peripheral neuropathy adult. Mayo Clinic; Feldman EL, et al. Management of diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes and foot problems. Daroff RB, et al. Disorders of peripheral nerves. In: Bradley's Neurological Clinical Practice. Saunders Elsevier; Natural medicines in the clinical management of pain. Natural Medicines. Nature Reviews — Disease Primers. Castro MR expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. Related Diabetic neuropathy and dietary supplements Types of diabetic neuropathy.

Autonomic neuropathy is damage to nerves that control your internal organs, leading to problems with your heart rate and blood pressure, digestive system, bladder, sex organs, sweat glands, and eyes. The damage can also lead to hypoglycemia unawareness. Focal neuropathies are conditions in which you typically have damage to single nerves, most often in your hand, head, torso, or leg.

The most common types of focal neuropathy are entrapment syndromes, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Other types of focal neuropathy are much less common. Proximal neuropathy is a rare and disabling type of nerve damage in your hip, buttock, or thigh. In extreme cases, infection can lead to amputation. The second most common type of neuropathy in people with diabetes is autonomic neuropathy. The autonomic nervous system runs other systems in your body over which you have no conscious control.

Many organs and muscles are controlled by it, including your:. Gastroparesis causes a delay in digestion, which can worsen over time, leading to frequent nausea and vomiting. Delayed digestion often makes it more difficult to control blood glucose levels, too, with frequently alternating high and low readings.

Also, symptoms of hypoglycemia , such as sweating and heart palpitations, can go undetected in people with autonomic neuropathy. This can mean not noticing when you have low blood sugar, increasing the risk for a hypoglycemic emergency. Autonomic neuropathy may also cause sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, or difficulty achieving orgasm. Neuropathy in the bladder can cause incontinence or make it difficult to fully empty your bladder.

Damage to the nerves that control your heart rate and blood pressure can make them respond more slowly. You may experience a drop in blood pressure and feel lightheaded or dizzy when you stand up after sitting or lying down, or when you exert yourself.

Autonomic neuropathy can also cause an abnormally fast heart rate. Autonomic neuropathy can make it difficult to identify some of the symptoms of a heart attack. If you have autonomic neuropathy, you should know the other warning signs for heart attack, including:. A rare form of neuropathy is proximal neuropathy, also known as diabetic amyotrophy.

This form of neuropathy is more commonly seen in adults over 50 years old with fairly well controlled type 2 diabetes, and more often in men. It often affects the hips, buttocks, or thighs. You may experience sudden and sometimes severe pain. Muscle weakness in your legs may make it difficult to stand up without assistance. Diabetic amyotrophy usually affects only one side of the body. After the onset of symptoms, they usually get worse and then eventually begin to improve slowly.

Fortunately, most people recover within a few years, even without treatment. This occurs most often in your hand, head, torso, or leg. It appears suddenly and is usually very painful. Like proximal neuropathy, most focal neuropathies go away in a few weeks or months and leave no lasting damage. The most common type is carpal tunnel syndrome. Diabetic neuropathy is caused by high blood sugar levels sustained over a long period of time.

Other factors can lead to nerve damage, such as:. Low levels of vitamin B can also lead to neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage that is caused by diabetes. Nerves are bundles of special tissues that carry signals between your brain and other parts of your body. The signals.

Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage that typically affects the feet and legs and sometimes affects the hands and arms. Autonomic neuropathy is damage to nerves that control your internal organs. Autonomic neuropathy can lead to problems with your heart rate and blood pressure, digestive system, bladder, sex organs, sweat glands, eyes, and ability to sense hypoglycemia. Focal neuropathies are conditions in which you typically have damage to single nerves, most often in your hand, head, torso, and leg.

Proximal neuropathy is a rare and disabling type of nerve damage in your hip, buttock, or thigh. This type of nerve damage typically affects one side of your body and may rarely spread to the other side. Proximal neuropathy often causes severe pain and may lead to significant weight loss.

If you have diabetes, your chance of developing nerve damage caused by diabetes increases the older you get and the longer you have diabetes. Managing your diabetes is an important part of preventing health problems such as diabetic neuropathy.