Isabel Casimiro, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and works as an endocrinologist at the University of Chicago.
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage that can cause unpleasant sensations, diminished sensation, weakness, diarrhea, constipation, and difficulty with urination. It can also cause serious health issues, like cardiovascular problems. And the loss of sensation and weakness can lead to injuries and infections.
If you have diabetes, it’s important to be aware of the potential effects, including diabetic neuropathy, so you can recognize and avoid the harmful health consequences. This article will discuss the symptoms and complications of diabetic neuropathy.
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Sensory symptoms (what you sense or feel) and autonomic symptoms (related to nonvoluntary body functions) are the earliest symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Motor effects (involving movement) can occur as well, particularly as the condition advances.
Common symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include:
Any of these symptoms can occur in the early stages of diabetic neuropathy and may even affect people with long-term diabetes who have had good blood sugar control.
The same type of nerve damage that causes the common effects of diabetic neuropathy can also extend to cause more severe nerve damage and may cause damage to nerves throughout the body.
Less common or late effects of diabetic neuropathy can include:
These symptoms are not usually early effects of diabetic neuropathy. Many people with diabetes never experience the less common effects of diabetic neuropathy.
Diabetic neuropathy can lead to a variety of serious health problems for some people. And the combination of diabetic neuropathy with other effects of diabetes can predispose you to certain complications, such as infections and problems with wound healing.
Complications of diabetic neuropathy may include:
General muscle weakness can also contribute to inactivity, with potentially harmful consequences, such as weight gain, hypertension (high blood pressure), and unhealthy cholesterol levels.
If you have diabetes, it’s important that you check your skin for injuries or sores. Make sure they are clean so they don’t become injected. Watch for signs of an infection, like warmth, swelling, redness, or pus. Get medical attention for a wound that appears infected or isn’t healing as it should.
Be sure to keep up with regularly scheduled visits with a healthcare provider to ensure that any complications are caught and treated early. This can also prevent complications from getting worse. If you develop signs of diabetic neuropathy, make an appointment to see a healthcare provider.
Call a healthcare provider if you have the following:
Some of these symptoms may progressively worsen over time with diabetic neuropathy. It’s helpful to have a plan for checking in with a healthcare provider to work together to monitor changes and decide whether you need an adjustment in your treatment plan.
Get prompt medical attention if you develop:
Diabetic neuropathy causes a variety of sensory, motor, and autonomic symptoms. The sensory effects cause both unpleasant sensations and diminished sensations. Some effects of diabetic neuropathy are serious, including the risk of falling, injuries, infections, and hypotension.
If you have diabetes or have begun to experience diabetic neuropathy symptoms, it’s important to check for cuts and bruises regularly and to keep an eye on any wounds as they heal.
Living with diabetes means being vigilant about taking care of your health every day. You can take steps to check for any harmful effects of diabetic neuropathy regularly. Get medical attention as soon as you begin to develop any signs of complications.
Diabetic neuropathy affects nerves. It can affect sensory or motor skeletal nerves (the nerves of your arms, legs, face, etc.), and it can also affect autonomic nerves that control the bladder, gastrointestinal system, heart, and blood pressure.
The earliest symptoms of diabetic neuropathy usually involve tingling, pain, or burning of the feet. Diminished sensation can develop at early stages too, but this usually is not as noticeable. Some people may experience other symptoms first, such as weakness, incontinence, or diarrhea.
In some cases, yes, advanced diabetic neuropathy can affect the function of the heart. It may cause an irregular heart rhythm, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
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Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and expert in the field of brain health and neurological disorders. Dr. Moawad regularly writes and edits health and career content for medical books and publications.
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