Diabetic neuropathy is a group of nerve disorders caused by diabetes. Over time, high blood sugar levels damage nerves, especially in the legs and feet, but also in other parts of the body depending on the type. It can significantly affect a person’s quality of life, causing pain, numbness, or even loss of mobility and organ function.
🔢 Types of Diabetic Neuropathy
1. Peripheral Neuropathy
- Most common form of diabetic neuropathy.
- Affects the extremities—primarily feet, legs, hands, and arms.
Symptoms:
- Tingling, numbness, or burning in feet and hands.
- Extreme sensitivity to touch.
- Muscle weakness, especially in the ankles (can affect balance and walking).
- Sores or infections on the feet that heal slowly or go unnoticed due to lack of feeling.
2. Autonomic Neuropathy
- Affects the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions.
Impacted Areas:
- Digestive system: Gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying), bloating, nausea.
- Bladder: Difficulty sensing a full bladder, leading to urinary tract infections or incontinence.
- Heart and blood vessels: Irregular heart rate, blood pressure drops (especially when standing), dizziness.
- Sweat glands: Abnormal sweating—too much or too little.
3. Proximal Neuropathy (Diabetic Amyotrophy)
- Also called femoral neuropathy or diabetic radiculoplexus neuropathy.
- Affects hips, buttocks, thighs, and sometimes arms.
Symptoms:
- Sudden, severe pain in the hip or thigh.
- Muscle weakness or shrinking (atrophy), making it difficult to rise from a sitting position.
- Often occurs on one side of the body.
- More common in older adults with type 2 diabetes.
4. Focal Neuropathy
- Affects specific nerves, often suddenly.
Commonly Affected Areas:
- Head and face: Vision problems, such as double vision (due to eye muscle paralysis).
- Torso or leg: Pain or weakness in a localized area, such as the chest or lower back.
- Hands: Carpal tunnel syndrome—a type of focal neuropathy common in diabetics.
Symptoms:
- Sudden pain, numbness, or weakness.
- May mimic other conditions like stroke or heart attack, but usually resolves in weeks or months.
Causes of Diabetic Neuropathy
- Uncontrolled Blood Sugar Levels
- Chronic high glucose levels damage the walls of small blood vessels (capillaries) that supply the nerves.
- This deprives nerves of nutrients and oxygen.
- Chronic high glucose levels damage the walls of small blood vessels (capillaries) that supply the nerves.
- Reduced Blood Flow to Nerves
- Diabetes contributes to atherosclerosis (narrowing of arteries), reducing circulation and causing nerve ischemia.
- Diabetes contributes to atherosclerosis (narrowing of arteries), reducing circulation and causing nerve ischemia.
- Chronic Inflammation
- Persistent hyperglycemia triggers inflammatory responses, which can harm nerves over time.
- Persistent hyperglycemia triggers inflammatory responses, which can harm nerves over time.
- Lifestyle Factors
- Smoking: Narrows blood vessels, worsening circulation to nerves.
- Alcohol consumption: Toxins in alcohol can further damage nerve tissue.
- Obesity: Increases insulin resistance and inflammation, accelerating nerve damage.
- Smoking: Narrows blood vessels, worsening circulation to nerves.
- Genetic Factors
- Some people are genetically predisposed to developing nerve damage from diabetes, even with moderate blood sugar control.
- Some people are genetically predisposed to developing nerve damage from diabetes, even with moderate blood sugar control.
Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy in Detail
- Tingling or Burning Sensations
- Often start in the toes and fingertips, progressing up the limbs (a “stocking-glove” pattern).
- Often start in the toes and fingertips, progressing up the limbs (a “stocking-glove” pattern).
- Loss of Sensation
- Makes it easy to miss injuries, which can become infected—especially dangerous in feet (risk of ulcers and amputation).
- Makes it easy to miss injuries, which can become infected—especially dangerous in feet (risk of ulcers and amputation).
- Muscle Weakness and Difficulty Walking
- As nerves deteriorate, signals to muscles are weakened, leading to balance issues or foot drop.
- As nerves deteriorate, signals to muscles are weakened, leading to balance issues or foot drop.
- Sharp or Shooting Pains
- Pain may be sudden, stabbing, or feel like an electric shock—more common at night.
- Pain may be sudden, stabbing, or feel like an electric shock—more common at night.
- Digestive and Bladder Issues
- Due to autonomic neuropathy, which impairs stomach emptying, bowel regulation, and bladder control.
- Due to autonomic neuropathy, which impairs stomach emptying, bowel regulation, and bladder control.
- Dizziness or Vision Problems
- Dizziness upon standing (orthostatic hypotension) is linked to blood pressure regulation issues.
- Blurred or double vision results from focal nerve damage affecting eye muscles.
- Dizziness upon standing (orthostatic hypotension) is linked to blood pressure regulation issues.
Why Early Detection Matters
Diabetic neuropathy is progressive, meaning it gets worse over time—but early diagnosis and treatment can slow its progression and reduce complications. A diabetes specialist like Dr. Arpit Garg can:
- Help control your blood sugar tightly.
- Screen regularly for nerve damage (e.g., foot exams, nerve conduction studies).
- Recommend pain relief and nerve-supporting medications.
- Guide on foot care, diet, and exercise to prevent complications.